Diabetes UK is calling for more support for women with diabetes who become pregnant, as a new report has revealed that three quarters of them have dangerously high blood glucose levels in early pregnancy.

The National Pregnancy in Diabetes (NPID) audit, which involved 2,537 pregnant women with diabetes in 2014 in England and Wales, found that 85 per cent of women with type 1 diabetes and 64 per cent with type 2 have higher than recommended blood glucose levels, increasing their risk of stillbirth, neonatal death and babies born with congenital abnormalities.

It also revealed that half of women with type 1 and two thirds of women with type 2 are not taking folic acid when they become pregnant, despite the fact that women with diabetes who are trying to get pregnant require a higher dose of folic acid than women without the condition. 

In addition, one in 10 women with type 2 diabetes are taking medication when they fall pregnant that could potentially harm a developing baby.

Chris Askew, chief executive of Diabetes UK, said: “The clear message of this report is that many women with diabetes are not getting the advice and support they need when it comes to planning to become pregnant and the stark fact is that in too many cases this is leading to tragic consequences such as death or disability of the baby with a third of babies born to mothers with diabetes needing intensive or specialist neonatal support.

“We also must get the message out to women with diabetes that it is really important that they need to plan and take the necessary steps before becoming pregnant to ensure the health of their unborn baby. This means that contraception is essential for women who are not planning to become pregnant, and women who are considering having a baby should speak to their diabetes team as early as possible so they can be supported in taking those all-important measures to ensure a healthy pregnancy and baby."