Diabetes in pregnancy

Please contact the Maternity Diabetes team as soon as you are aware you are pregnant if you had diabetes in any previous pregnancies or have pre-existing diabetes. You can self-refer to the diabetes team by email.
Royal Sussex County Hospital: [email protected]
Princess Royal Hospital: [email protected]

How we help 

Pre-existing diabetes

If you already have diabetes and are planning to become pregnant it is very important to have good control of your glucose levels. This will help to reduce the risk of miscarriage, congenital malformation, stillbirth, and neonatal death. Please speak to your diabetes nurse or GP to review your health, medication and plan your care while you are trying to get pregnant.

When you are pregnant you will be referred to the antenatal clinic and will be cared for throughout your pregnancy by a specialist multi-disciplinary team including a doctor specialising in diabetes, an obstetrician, a specialist diabetes nurse, specialist midwife and a dietician.

Gestational diabetes

Diabetes that develops in pregnancy is known as gestational diabetes. It happens when your body cannot produce enough insulin (a hormone that helps to control blood glucose) to meet its extra needs in pregnancy. This results in high blood glucose levels. High blood glucose levels can have health implications for you and your baby.

Gestational diabetes is common and affects up to 18 in 100 pregnant women and people. It usually starts in the middle or towards the end of pregnancy.

You are more likely to develop gestational diabetes if you have:

a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or higher
previously given birth to a large baby – 4.5kg (10lbs) or more
had gestational diabetes before
a parent, brother or sister with diabetes
PCOS
a multiple pregnancy.

or are:

of non-European heritage
aged over 40.

If you have any of these risk factors you will be offered testing during your pregnancy.

There may also be other risk factors for which we would advise screening.

If you are diagnosed with gestational diabetes, you will have specialist antenatal care from a multi-disciplinary team including a doctor specialising in diabetes, an obstetrician, a specialist diabetes nurse, specialist midwife and a dietician.

Most people who have gestational diabetes have healthy pregnancies and healthy babies.