Blood tests for investigating maternal wellbeing. 7. Testing for diabetes in pregnancy

Nimisha Waller1

  • 1AUT University, New Zealand.

Increase in obesity and prevalence of diabetes has made this condition the most common and important metabolic disorder. Midwives regularly meet women at booking whose pregnancy will be or is complicated by diabetes. These women and their babies are at increased risk of morbidity not just during pregnancy and birth but for long term as well. The article takes you briefly through the condition and updates you on the relevant guidelines and tests you may offer woman who is at risk of or has diabetes in pregnancy. Early diagnosis may enable intervention that may result in improved perinatal outcome.

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