This Friday, for World Diabetes Day, the UN is highlighting how the disease affects pregnancy, in line with this year’s global theme of managing diabetes “across the life stages”.
The organization has also launched its first ever global guidelines on how to manage diabetes before, during and after pregnancy.
“These guidelines are based on the realities of women’s lives and health needs and provide clear, evidence-based strategies for delivering high-quality care to every woman, everywhere,” said Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, who heads the UN World Health Organization (WHO).
The guidance aims to support the 21 million pregnancies affected by diabetes each year and provides recommendations that recognize how diabetes-related risks develop throughout life.
Why it matters
Diabetes now affects more than 800 million people globally – and about half are undiagnosed, according to the new WHO report.
It is a major cause of heart disease, kidney failure, blindness and amputations. Its impact is increasing most rapidly in low- and middle-income countries, where access to care and essential medicines is often limited.
This year’s World Diabetes Day message emphasizes the importance of improving diabetes care throughout life, starting even before pregnancy and continuing into early childhood and adulthood.
What is diabetes?
Diabetes occurs when the body cannot regulate blood sugar correctly.
• Type 2 diabetes accounts for 95 percent of cases and, according to the WHO, is associated with excess weight, insufficient physical activity and genetics.
• The causes of type 1 diabetes remain unknown and those affected require lifelong insulin treatment.
• Diabetes prevalence has been increasing worldwide for decades, placing increasing pressure on healthcare systems.
Pregnancy: A critical window
Gestational diabetes can be pre-existing or first discovered during pregnancy.
Women who develop diabetes during pregnancy have a higher risk of type 2 diabetes after delivery.
The condition increases the risk of life-threatening complications, including preeclampsia and other hypertensive disorders.
Babies face higher risks of stillbirth, seizures and congenital abnormalities. Children born after diabetes-complicated pregnancies are more likely to develop obesity, cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes later in life.
What the WHO recommends
The WHO Global Diabetes Compact offers tools to improve prevention and care worldwide.
The newly launched pregnancy guidelines contain 27 recommendations, including:
• Eat a diet low in added sugar with carbohydrates from whole grains, vegetables, fruit and legumes
• At least 150 minutes of physical activity per week, including strength training
• Regular blood sugar measurement
• Routine ultrasound scan before and after 24 weeks
• Appropriate medical treatment
