ABSTRACT
Pregnancy in women with diabetes poses a challenge with potential adverse consequences for both mother and fetus. There is also evidence that children born to a diabetic mother are at increased risk of future obesity and diabetes. As maternal diabetes is hazardous for the fetus with an increased risk of major congenital malformations and metabolic and developmental problems, diabetic patients should be closely supervised during pregnancy and preferably attend a combined diabetic/obstetric clinic. Women with type 1 diabetes who are of reproductive age should be asked about future plans for conception and advised to attempt to normalize their HbA1c levels prior to conception to avoid the risk of congenital malformations (most commonly sacral agenesis).
