Cookies on this website

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you click 'Accept all cookies' we'll assume that you are happy to receive all cookies and you won't see this message again. If you click 'Reject all non-essential cookies' only necessary cookies providing core functionality such as security, network management, and accessibility will be enabled. Click 'Find out more' for information on how to change your cookie settings.

Image of top 10 issues in diabetes and pregnancy.

A new list of ten questions chosen by patients and clinicians will help guide future research in diabetes and pregnancy to deliver maximum value and impact.

The Diabetes and Pregnancy Priority Setting Partnership (PSP), led by the National Perinatal Epidemiology Unit (NPEU) at the Nuffield Department of Population Health, announced today ten key priorities for diabetes and pregnancy research, according to women, their families and healthcare professionals.

Diabetes affects approximately 38,000 women giving birth in the UK each year and rates are rising. This can cause complications during pregnancy and birth, and may have long-term effects for mother and child, such as cardiovascular disease. The COVID-19 pandemic has put even greater pressure on resources and funding across the health sector, hence it is important that research in diabetes and pregnancy is centred on the greatest needs of those affected.

‘Healthcare research is often led by industry and researchers. But there can be a mismatch between the research they do and the issues that are most important for people living with the condition, or those that support them’ says Dr Goher Ayman, project co-lead at NPEU. To help address this, The Diabetes and Pregnancy PSP was launched by NPEU on World Diabetes Day 2018, in partnership with the James Lind Alliance, Diabetes UK, JDRF the type 1 diabetes research charity and Diabetes Research and Wellness Foundation. PSPs use a method developed by the James Lind Alliance, which works to raise awareness of research questions which are important to patients and clinicians.

More than 700 women, their families, and healthcare professionals took part. First, in a UK-wide survey, over 1,100 questions were submitted about the time before, during and after pregnancy with diabetes. This list was refined and prioritised in a second survey and a participant workshop to identify the final top ten questions which were launched today at the 2020 Diabetes UK Professional Conference. The questions reflect the entire birth journey, from planning pregnancy to postnatal support, and apply to any type of diabetes.

The research questions are:

  1. How can diabetes technology be used to improve pregnancy, birth, and mother and child health outcomes?
  2. What is the best test to diagnose diabetes in pregnant women?
  3. For women with diabetes, what is the best way to manage blood sugar levels using diet and lifestyle during pregnancy?
  4. What are the emotional and mental well-being needs of women with diabetes before, during, and after pregnancy, and how can they best be supported?
  5. When is it safe for pregnant women with diabetes to give birth at full term compared with early delivery via induction or elective caesarean?
  6. What are the specific postnatal care and support needs of women with diabetes and their infants?
  7. What is the best way to test for and treat diabetes in late pregnancy i.e. after 34 weeks?
  8. What is the best way to reduce the risk or prevent women with gestational diabetes developing other types of diabetes any time after pregnancy?
  9. What are the labour and birth experiences of women with diabetes, and how can their choices and shared decision making be enhanced?
  10. How can care and services be improved for women with diabetes who are planning pregnancy?

The priorities will be shared with funding bodies, research institutes and scientific societies to use them as a starting point for deciding future research projects and programmes. ‘When these priorities are acted on, we are making sure that research will deliver the most impact and value for women and their families, closing the loop of the process’ says Goher.

The project team would like to thank everyone who contributed through the surveys and took part in the final workshop, the PSP funders the Diabetes Research and Wellness Foundation and the University of Oxford (John Fell Fund and NDPH), the PSP steering group members and partners Diabetes UK, JDRF the type 1 diabetes charity, James Lind Alliance, and the many people and organisations who supported at various stages throughout the project, without whom this project would not have been successful.