Diabetes now affects 1 in 6 pregnancies worldwide. This alarming statistic highlights the urgent need for awareness and proper care during pregnancy.
On World Diabetes Day this Friday, the United Nations is focusing on how diabetes impacts pregnancy. The theme this year is managing diabetes “across life stages.” To support this, the World Health Organization (WHO) has released its first-ever global guidelines for managing diabetes before, during, and after pregnancy.
Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO’s director-general, stated that these guidelines are designed to meet the real-life health needs of women. They provide clear, evidence-based advice to ensure every woman receives quality care.
Each year, 21 million pregnancies are affected by diabetes. The new guidelines recognize how the risks related to diabetes change over time for women.
Diabetes affects more than 800 million people globally, with about half unaware they have the disease. It causes serious health problems like heart disease, kidney failure, blindness, and amputations. The biggest increases in diabetes cases are happening in low- and middle-income countries where healthcare access is limited.
WHO stresses the importance of managing diabetes throughout life, including before pregnancy, through childbirth, and into early childhood.
Diabetes happens when the body can’t control blood sugar levels properly. Most cases (95%) are type 2 diabetes, linked to overweight, inactivity, and genetics. Type 1 diabetes requires lifelong insulin treatment, and its cause is unknown. Diabetes rates have been rising worldwide, putting more pressure on healthcare systems.
Pregnancy is a critical time for diabetes management. Women may have diabetes before pregnancy or develop it during pregnancy (gestational diabetes). Having diabetes during pregnancy increases the risk of high blood pressure conditions like pre-eclampsia. Babies born to mothers with diabetes have higher risks of stillbirth, seizures, and birth defects. These children are also more likely to develop obesity and diabetes later in life.
The new WHO guidelines include 27 recommendations for care during pregnancy. Key advice includes:
- Eating a healthy diet low in added sugars and rich in whole grains, vegetables, fruits, and beans
- Being active for at least 150 minutes a week, including strength exercises
- Regular blood sugar testing
- Routine ultrasound scans before and after 24 weeks of pregnancy
- Appropriate medical treatment when needed
These guidelines aim to improve prevention and care worldwide, helping women and babies have healthier outcomes.
Related topics
AID Improves Glucose Control In Type 1 Diabetes During Pregnancy
Pregnancy Diet May Shape Child’s Diabetes Risk, Study Finds
New Guidelines Refine Gestational Diabetes Screening in Pregnancy
