Diabetic Women at Higher Risk of Experiencing Stillbirths

A new study shows that stillbirths are four times likely to occur for women who have diabetes than those without diabetes.

According to the study, high blood sugar levels (hyperglycemia) and body mass index (BMI) are the major conditions in diabetic pregnant women that can potentially lead to a stillbirth.

Research done by the University of Glasgow, Scotland, had records of diabetic mothers and the number of diabetes-related stillbirths.

According to the records, the researchers found that in 4,000 Scottish diabetic pregnant women, there are about 1,333 stillbirths that happen at full term.

Glasgow researchers found out that women with type 1 diabetes are three times likely to have a stillbirth as out of 1000 women with this condition, there is a 16.1 percent stillbirth rate.

Women with type 2 diabetes are at a higher risk of having stillbirths than their type 1 counterparts as out of 1000 pregnancies, 22.9 percent stillbirths occur. This is more than four times higher than the general population stillbirths which were rated at 4.9 percent.

Women with type 1 diabetes who had stillbirths were found to have recorded a higher than normal level of blood sugar during their pregnancy while stillbirths for those with type 2 diabetes was determined by pre-pregnancy blood glucose levels.

To help reduce the number of stillbirths for diabetic women, Dr. Sharon Mackin advises that efforts to improve blood sugar levels before and during pregnancy should remain paramount.

“It is important for healthcare providers to support women in their reproductive age so that they are more aware of their conditions, weight, and blood glucose levels so that they are better prepared when they finally get into pregnancy,” said Dr. Mackin.

Dr. Mackin advised that women with diabetes should make a point of visiting their clinics as soon as they realize they are pregnant so that the essential stillbirth control measures are exercised early enough.

Women with type 2 diabetes are also advised to consider losing extra weight to help reduce the risk of having a stillbirth.

Most importantly, the researchers recommended that women with diabetes who are planning for a pregnancy should be supported and helped to manage their blood glucose levels.