WORRYING figures have emerged on the number of pregnant women with diabetes who have higher than recommended blood sugar levels in early pregnancy.

The national audit revealed 74 per cent of diabetic pregnant women have high blood glucose levels – and the audit’s lead doctor is calling for services to work together to increase awareness among women at risk from stillbirths, neonatal deaths and congenital abnormalities at birth.

In 2014 the audit made an analysis of 2,537 diabetic pregnant women – with 210 from Yorkshire and Humber and 67 from the North-East.

The National Pregnancy in Diabetes (NPID) audit, which is managed by the Health and Social Care Information Centre in partnership with Diabetes UK supported by Public Health England, measures the implementation of national guidance on the care of women with diabetes who become pregnant.

It forms part of the National Clinical Audit programme, commissioned by the Healthcare Quality Improvement Partnership on behalf of NHS England and the Welsh Government. 

Nearly half of diabetic pregnant women in Yorkshire and Humber were found to have higher than recommended levels of blood glucose, with 26.4 per cent having the recommended level and 15.5 per cent having a lower blood glucose level.

And nearly 30 per cent of those with Type 1 and more than 60 per cent of pregnant women with Type 2 diabetes had a blood glucose levels above the level where women are advised to avoid pregnancy.

In the North-East, of all diabetic pregnant women in the audit, 50 per cent had a blood glucose level that could be detrimental to the pregnancy; more than 30 per cent of pregnant women with Type 1 diabetes and more than 77 per cent of pregnant women with Type 2 diabetes had a blood sugar level which could result in harm to the baby.

Audit lead clinician Dr Nick Lewis-Barned said: “There are three key elements of pregnancy preparation for women with diabetes to reduce the risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes – good control of blood glucose levels, taking folic acid supplements and a medication review. It’s clear from the audit that many women need more information and more support in all of these areas.

“This means we need to work more effectively to ensure that women get the support they need to have healthy pregnancies.”