ABSTRACT
According to the American Diabetes Association, unplanned pregnancies in women with diabetes could lead to abnormal metabolic control, which causes fetal and maternal complications. Preconception planning can decrease these risks. This article reports on the progress in preconception planning over the past 2 years.
Subject(s)
Family Planning Services/methods , Preconception Care/methods , Pregnancy in Diabetics/prevention & control , Family Planning Services/statistics & numerical data , Female , Humans , Male , Preconception Care/statistics & numerical data , Pregnancy , Pregnancy in Diabetics/metabolism , Pregnancy in Diabetics/physiopathologyABSTRACT
Prior to the discovery of insulin, the combination of diabetes and pregnancy was considered potentially lethal. Advances in the care of diabetes, combined with advances in antepartum fetal testing, have reduced maternal and perinatal mortality outcomes to levels expected in nondiabetic pregnancies. As new oral antidiabetes medications are introduced, the safety and efficacy of using them during pregnancy are under investigation. This article describes the oral medications currently available to treat diabetes, reviews the body of research available on these agents, and discusses current recommendations and controversies.
