Diabetes in pregnancy: management from preconception to the postnatal period [NG3]

Measuring the use of this guidance

Recommendation: 1.1.11

Advise women with diabetes who are planning to become pregnant to take folic acid (5 mg/day) until 12 weeks of gestation to reduce the risk of having a baby with a neural tube defect. [2008]

What was measured: The proportion of women with type 1 diabetes who were taking the recommended 5mg dose of folic acid prior to pregnancy.

Data collection end: December 2015

46.1%

Data collection end: December 2016

41.8%

Data collection end: December 2019

43.72%

Area covered:	England and Wales
Source:	NHS Digital. National Pregnancy in Diabetes Audit.

What was measured: The proportion of women with type 2 diabetes who were taking the recommended 5mg dose of folic acid prior to pregnancy.

Data collection end: December 2015

22.5%

Data collection end: December 2016

22.8%

Data collection end: December 2018

22.12%

Area covered:	England and Wales
Source:	NHS Digital. National Pregnancy in Diabetes Audit.

What was measured: The proportion of women with type 1 diabetes who were taking the recommended 5mg dose of folic acid prior to pregnancy.

Data collection end: December 2014

44.9%

Area covered:	England and Wales
Source:	NHS Digital. National Pregnancy in Diabetes Audit.

What was measured: Proportion of pregnant women with type 2 diabetes prescribed 5 mg/day folic acid from at least 3 months before conception.

Data collection end: December 2014

23.7%

Area covered:	England and Wales
Source:	NHS Digital. National Pregnancy in Diabetes Audit.

Recommendation: 1.1.18

Advise women with diabetes who are planning to become pregnant to aim to keep their HbA1c level below 48 mmol/mol (6.5%), if this is achievable without causing problematic hypoglycaemia.

What was measured: Proportion of pregnant women with type 2 diabetes who have a first trimester HbA1c level of <48mmol/mol.

Data collection end: December 2016

38.1%

Data collection end: December 2018

36.28%

Area covered:	England and Wales
Source:	NHS Digital. National Pregnancy in Diabetes Audit.

What was measured: Proportion of pregnant women with type 1 diabetes who have a first trimester HbA1c level of <48mmol/mol.

Data collection end: December 2016

14.9%

Data collection end: December 2018

15.63%

Area covered:	England and Wales
Source:	NHS Digital. National Pregnancy in Diabetes Audit.

Recommendation: 1.1.20

Strongly advise women with diabetes whose HbA1c level is above 86 mmol/mol (10%) not to get pregnant because of the associated risks.

What was measured: Proportion of pregnant women with type 2 diabetes who have a first trimester HbA1c level of >86mmol/mol.

Data collection end: December 2016

7.4%

Area covered:	England and Wales
Source:	NHS Digital. National Pregnancy in Diabetes Audit.

What was measured: Proportion of pregnant women with type 1 diabetes who have a first trimester HbA1c level of >86mmol/mol.

Data collection end: December 2016

12.5%

Area covered:	England and Wales
Source:	NHS Digital. National Pregnancy in Diabetes Audit.

Recommendation: 1.1.21

Women with diabetes may be advised to use metformin as an adjunct or alternative to insulin in the preconception period and during pregnancy, when the likely benefits from improved blood glucose control outweigh the potential for harm. All other oral blood glucose‑lowering agents should be discontinued before pregnancy and insulin substituted.

What was measured: Proportion of pregnant women with type 1 diabetes who were taking insulin and metformin only prior to pregnancy.

Data collection end: December 2016

5.2%

Area covered:	England and Wales
Source:	NHS Digital. National Pregnancy in Diabetes Audit.

What was measured: Proportion of pregnant women with type 2 diabetes who were taking insulin and metformin only prior to pregnancy.

Data collection end: December 2016

12%

Area covered:	England and Wales
Source:	NHS Digital. National Pregnancy in Diabetes Audit.

What was measured: Proportion of pregnant women with type 1 diabetes who were taking metformin only prior to pregnancy.

Data collection end: December 2016

0.3%

Data collection end: December 2018

0.24%

Area covered:	England and Wales
Source:	NHS Digital. National Pregnancy in Diabetes Audit.

What was measured: Proportion of pregnant women with type 2 diabetes who were taking metformin only prior to pregnancy.

Data collection end: December 2016

52.6%

Area covered:	England and Wales
Source:	NHS Digital. National Pregnancy in Diabetes Audit.

What was measured: Proportion of pregnant women with type 2 diabetes who were taking diabetic medications other than metformin or insulin prior to pregnancy.

Data collection end: December 2016

6.5%

Data collection end: December 2018

5.75%

Area covered:	England and Wales
Source:	NHS Digital. National Pregnancy in Diabetes Audit.

Recommendation: 1.1.24

Angiotensin‑converting enzyme inhibitors and angiotensin‑II receptor antagonists should be discontinued before conception or as soon as pregnancy is confirmed. Alternative antihypertensive agents suitable for use during pregnancy should be substituted.

What was measured: Proportion of pregnant women with type 1 diabetes who were taking an ACE inhibitor or ARB prior to pregnancy.

Data collection end: December 2016

0.9%

Data collection end: December 2019

0.97%

Area covered:	England and Wales
Source:	NHS Digital. National Pregnancy in Diabetes Audit.

What was measured: Proportion of pregnant women with type 2 diabetes who were taking an ACE inhibitor or ARB prior to pregnancy.

Data collection end: December 2016

Data collection end: December 2019

3.54%

Area covered:	England and Wales
Source:	NHS Digital. National Pregnancy in Diabetes Audit.

Recommendation: 1.1.25

Statins should be discontinued before pregnancy or as soon as pregnancy is confirmed.

What was measured: Proportion of pregnant women with type 1 diabetes who were taking a statin prior to pregnancy.

Data collection end: December 2016

1.1%

Data collection end: December 2019

1.45%

Area covered:	England and Wales
Source:	NHS Digital. National Pregnancy in Diabetes Audit.

What was measured: Proportion of pregnant women with type 2 diabetes who were taking a statin prior to pregnancy.

Data collection end: December 2016

Data collection end: December 2019

4.42%

Area covered:	England and Wales
Source:	NHS Digital. National Pregnancy in Diabetes Audit.

Recommendation: 1.3.9

Be aware that level of risk for the pregnancy for women with pre‑existing diabetes increases with an HbA1c level above 48 mmol/mol (6.5%).

What was measured: Proportion of pregnant women with type 1 diabetes with a HbA1c <48mmol/mol in late pregnancy (24 weeks+).

Data collection end: December 2016

41.3%

Area covered:	England and Wales
Source:	NHS Digital. National Pregnancy in Diabetes Audit.

What was measured: Proportion of pregnant women with type 2 diabetes with a HbA1c <48mmol/mol in late pregnancy (24 weeks+).

Data collection end: December 2016

75.4%

Area covered:	England and Wales
Source:	NHS Digital. National Pregnancy in Diabetes Audit.

Recommendation: 1.3.34

Offer immediate contact with a joint diabetes and antenatal clinic to women with diabetes who are pregnant.

What was measured: Proportion of pregnant women with type 1 diabetes who had contact with the joint diabetes antenatal team before 10+0 weeks gestation.

Data collection end: December 2016

76%

Area covered:	England and Wales
Source:	NHS Digital. National Pregnancy in Diabetes Audit.

What was measured: Proportion of pregnant women with type 2 diabetes who had contact with the joint diabetes antenatal team before 10+0 weeks gestation.

Data collection end: December 2016

58.1%

Area covered:	England and Wales
Source:	NHS Digital. National Pregnancy in Diabetes Audit.

What was measured: Proportion of women with diabetes, who had experienced an intrapartum stillbirth or intrapartum-related neonatal death and were managed in a joint diabetes and antenatal clinic in accordance with NICE guidance.

Data collection end: December 2015

50%

Number that met the criteria: 4 / 8

Area covered:	UK
Source:	Maternal, Newborn and Infant Clinical Outcome Review Programme. Perinatal Confidential Enquiry.

Recommendation: 1.4.10

Monitor capillary plasma glucose every hour during labour and birth in women with diabetes, and ensure that it is maintained between 4 and 7 mmol/litre. [2008, amended 2015]

What was measured: Proportion of women with diabetes that had their capillary plasma glucose monitored every hour during labour and birth.

Data collection end: June 2015

45%

Area covered:	UK
Source:	A Twins and Multiple Birth Association (TAMBA) - NCT Joint Report. Maternity Services and Multiple Births.

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