By Maryjane Austine
WHO Releases First Global Recommendation on Diabetes in Pregnancy
The World Health Organisation has issued its first global recommendations focused entirely on managing diabetes during pregnancy, marking a major step forward for maternal and child health. The condition affects around one in six pregnancies worldwide, putting an estimated 21 million women at risk every year.
Until now, WHO’s advice on diabetes and pregnancy existed separately, leaving a gap in coordinated care. Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the new recommendations respond directly to the needs of women and offer a unified standard for managing diabetes throughout pregnancy.
Poorly managed diabetes during pregnancy can lead to serious complications such as pre-eclampsia, stillbirth and birth injuries. The effects can extend long after delivery, increasing the risk of type 2 diabetes and other cardiometabolic conditions for both mother and child. The burden is heaviest in low- and middle-income countries, where access to specialist care remains limited.
The recommendations outline 27 steps for improving detection, monitoring and treatment. They call for personalised care plans, regular blood sugar checks at home and in clinics, and appropriate medication for women with type 1, type 2 or gestational diabetes. The document also stresses the need for multidisciplinary support, particularly for women entering pregnancy with existing diabetes.
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A key focus is the integration of diabetes care into routine antenatal services and ensuring women everywhere have access to essential medicines and technologies.
This year’s World Diabetes Day theme, “Diabetes across life stages,” highlights the need for lifelong, coordinated care. Children, teenagers, adults and older people all face different challenges, and supportive policies are vital to help them manage the condition with dignity.
Diabetes remains one of the world’s fastest-growing health threats, affecting more than 800 million people. It is a major cause of heart disease, kidney failure, blindness and limb amputation, with the sharpest rise seen in lower-income countries where access to care is often limited.
This year’s campaign called for stronger action to expand prevention, treatment and support, ensuring that no one is left behind.
