Thinking about having a baby when you have diabetes
If you become pregnant and you have diabetes, you should go on to have a healthy baby. But there are some possible complications you should be aware of.
The information is relevant for you if you were diagnosed with type 1 or type 2 diabetes before you became pregnant.
What is means for you
If you have type 1 or type 2 diabetes, you may be at higher risk of having:
- a large baby – which increases the risk of a difficult birth, having your labour induced or needing a caesarean section
- a miscarriage
- risk of developing problems with their eyes (diabetic retinopathy) and kidneys (diabetic nephropathy). Pregnancy can increase your risk of developing these problems or make existing ones worse.
What it means for your baby
If you have type 1 or type 2 diabetes, your baby may be at higher risk of:
- having health problems shortly after birth, such as heart and breathing problems, and needing hospital care
- developing obesity or diabetes later in life
There’s also a slightly higher chance of your baby being born with birth defects, particularly heart and nervous system abnormalities, or being stillborn or dying soon after birth.
Reducing the risks
But managing your diabetes well, before and during your pregnancy, will help to reduce these risks. The best way to reduce the risks to you and your baby is to ensure your diabetes is well controlled before you become pregnant.
If you are planning a pregnancy contact your GP or practice nurse or your diabetes nurse as they can refer you to the diabetes pre-conception advice.
Refer yourself to our specialist midwife using the form below.
Further information
Diabetes UK have some great info on their website: