16 February 2016
In January, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) published its quality standard on the management of diabetes and its complications, both in women who are planning a pregnancy and in women who are already pregnant.
The quality standard states that women with diabetes who are planning a pregnancy should be prescribed 5 mg per day of folic acid from at least 3 months before conception. They should then have an appointment with the joint diabetes and antenatal care team within a week of their pregnancy being confirmed. Pregnant women with diabetes should have their HbA1c levels measured at this appointment and be referred for retinal assessment. They should also be supported to self-monitor their blood glucose levels.
If women are diagnosed with gestational diabetes, they should be seen by members of the joint diabetes and antenatal care team within a week of diagnosis. After giving birth, they should have an annual HbA1c test.
