Diabetes in Pregnancy: A Review of Service Provision and Practice at a Maternity Center
Abstract
1. Introduction
2. Materials and Methods
2.1. Study Design
2.2. Audit Standards
- Documentation of pre-pregnancy or early-pregnancy maternal weight
- Women at high risk of GDM should have an early OGTT at 16–18 weeks of pregnancy.
- On diagnosis of GDM, women should be referred to the dietitian
- Women with pre-gestational diabetes should have an HbA1c check every trimester, receive 5 mg of Folic acid supplementation in the first trimester, receive aspirin in pregnancy, have a retinal assessment during current pregnancy, and be referred to an endocrinologist for review.
- Patients with GDM should have an OGTT 6–12 weeks after delivery.
2.3. Data Collection
2.4. Outcomes
2.5. Statistical Analysis
3. Results
4. Discussion
4.1. Key Findings
4.2. Recommendations
5. Strengths
6. Limitations
7. Conclusions
Author Contributions
Funding
Institutional Review Board Statement
Informed Consent Statement
Data Availability Statement
Acknowledgments
Conflicts of Interest
Abbreviations
| GDM | Gestational Diabetes Mellitus |
| T1DM | Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus |
| T2DM | Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus |
| OGTT | Oral Glucose Tolerance Test |
| BMI | Body Mass Index |
| HbA1c | Glycated Hemoglobin |
| VRII | Variable Rate Insulin Infusion |
| CS | Cesarean Section |
| GA | Gestational Age |
| MOPH | Ministry of Public Health |
| WHO | World Health Organization |
| IOM | Institute of Medicine |
| CVD | Cardiovascular Disease |
| A summary of the Audit in context and key points: | |
| Category | Details |
| 1. What is already known about the subject? |
|
| 2. What are the key questions? |
|
| 3. What are the findings? |
|
| 4. How does this impact clinical practice for the foreseeable future? |
|
References
- World Health Organization. Diagnostic criteria and classification of hyperglycaemia first detected in pregnancy: A World Health Organization Guideline. Diabetes Res. Clin. Pract. 2014, 103, 341–363. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [Scilit]
- McIntyre, H.D.; Catalano, P.; Zhang, C.; Desoye, G.; Mathiesen, E.R.; Damm, P. Gestational Diabetes Mellitus; Nature Reviews Disease Primers; Nature Publishing Group: Berlin, Germany, 2019; Volume 5, pp. 1–19. Available online: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41572-019-0098-8 (accessed on 6 October 2024).
- Wang, H.; Li, N.; Chivese, T.; Werfalli, M.; Sun, H.; Yuen, L.; Hoegfeldt, C.A.; Powe, C.E.; Immanuel, J.; Karuranga, S.; et al. IDF Diabetes Atlas: Estimation of Global and Regional Gestational Diabetes Mellitus Prevalence for 2021 by International Association of Diabetes in Pregnancy Study Group’s Criteria. Diabetes Res. Clin. Pract. 2022, 183, 109050. Available online: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34883186/ (accessed on 29 December 2023). [CrossRef] [Scilit] [PubMed]
- Bashir, M.; E. Abdel-Rahman, M.; Aboulfotouh, M.; Eltaher, F.; Omar, K.; Babarinsa, I.; Appiah-Sakyi, K.; Sharaf, T.; Azzam, E.; Abukhalil, M.; et al. Prevalence of newly detected diabetes in pregnancy in Qatar, using universal screening. PLoS ONE 2018, 13, e0201247. Available online: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30074993/ (accessed on 29 December 2023). [CrossRef] [Scilit]
- Bashir, M.; Ibrahim, I.; Beer, S.; Shahbic, H.; Eltaher, F.; Al-Mutawaa, K.; Zirie, M.; Abou-Samra, A.B. Integrated care of diabetes during pregnancy: A Qatari nationwide cohort. EClinicalMedicine 2024, 72, 102630. Available online: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38680518/ (accessed on 6 October 2024). [CrossRef] [Scilit]
- Farrar, D. Hyperglycemia in pregnancy: Prevalence, impact, and management challenges. Int. J. Womens Health 2016, 8, 519–527. Available online: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27703397/ (accessed on 19 October 2024). [CrossRef] [Scilit]
- Metzger, B.E.; Lowe, L.P.; Dyer, A.R.; Trimble, E.R.; Chaovarindr, U.; Coustan, D.R.; Hadden, D.R.; McCance, D.R.; Hod, M.; McIntyre, H.D.; et al. Hyperglycemia and Adverse Pregnancy Outcomes. N. Engl. J. Med. 2008, 358, 1991–2002. Available online: https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa0707943 (accessed on 19 October 2024).
- Tam, W.H.; Ma, R.C.W.; Ozaki, R.; Li, A.M.; Chan, M.H.M.; Yuen, L.Y.; Lao, T.T.H.; Yang, X.; Ho, C.S.; Tutino, G.E.; et al. In Utero Exposure to Maternal Hyperglycemia Increases Childhood Cardiometabolic Risk in Offspring. Diabetes Care 2017, 40, 679–686. Available online: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28279981/ (accessed on 22 October 2024). [CrossRef] [Scilit] [PubMed]
- Li, N.; Yang, Y.; Cui, D.; Li, C.; Ma, R.C.; Li, J.; Yang, X. Effects of lifestyle intervention on long-term risk of diabetes in women with prior gestational diabetes: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Obes. Rev. 2021, 22, e13122. Available online: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33316148/ (accessed on 22 October 2024). [CrossRef] [Scilit] [PubMed]
- Vounzoulaki, E.; Khunti, K.; Abner, S.C.; Tan, B.K.; Davies, M.J.; Gillies, C.L. Progression to type 2 diabetes in women with a known history of gestational diabetes: Systematic review and meta-analysis. BMJ 2020, 369, m1361. Available online: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32404325/ (accessed on 29 December 2023). [CrossRef] [Scilit]
- Champion, M.L.; Battarbee, A.N.; Biggio, J.R.; Casey, B.M.; Harper, L.M. Postpartum glucose intolerance following early gestational diabetes mellitus. Am. J. Obstet. Gynecol. MFM 2022, 4, 100609. Available online: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9195159/ (accessed on 27 December 2023). [CrossRef] [Scilit]
- American Diabetes Association Professional Practice Comittee. 15. Management of Diabetes in Pregnancy: Standards of Medical Care in Diabetes—2022. Diabetes Care 2022, 45, S232–S243. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [Scilit]
- Caughey, A.B.; Turrentine, M. ACOG Practice Bulletin: Gestational Diabetes Mellitus. Obstet. Gynecol. 2018, 131, E49–E64. Available online: https://ohsu.elsevierpure.com/en/publications/acog-practice-bulletin-gestational-diabetes-mellitus (accessed on 30 October 2024).
- National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE). Diabetes in Pregnancy: Management from Preconception to the Postnatal Period. Diabetes Pregnancy Manag from Preconception to Postnatal Period. 16 December 2020. Available online: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK555331/ (accessed on 30 October 2024).
- Canadian Diabetes Association Clinical Practice Guidelines Expert Committee. Diabetes and Pregnancy. Can. J. Diabetes 2013, 37, S168–S183. Available online: http://www.canadianjournalofdiabetes.com/article/S1499267113000452/fulltext (accessed on 30 October 2024). [CrossRef] [Scilit]
- Hod, M.; Kapur, A.; Sacks, D.A.; Hadar, E.; Agarwal, M.; Di Renzo, G.C.; Roura, L.C.; McIntyre, H.D.; Morris, J.L.; Divakar, H.; et al. The International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) Initiative on gestational diabetes mellitus: A pragmatic guide for diagnosis, management, and care. Int. J. Gynecol. Obstet. 2015, 131, S173–S211. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [Scilit]
- MoPH-Qatar. Clinical Guidelines for the State of Qatar, the Diagnosis and Management of Diabetes Mellitus in Pregnancy. 2018. Available online: https://www.moph.gov.qa/health-strategies/Documents/Guidelines/MOPHNationalGuideline-DiabetesinPregnancyv2FINAL.pdf (accessed on 27 January 2026).
- Crowther, C.A.; Hiller, J.E.; Moss, J.R.; McPhee, A.J.; Jeffries, W.S.; Robinson, J.S. Effect of Treatment of Gestational Diabetes Mellitus on Pregnancy Outcomes. N. Engl. J. Med. 2005, 352, 2477–2486. Available online: https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa042973 (accessed on 8 December 2024). [CrossRef] [Scilit]
- Saunders, C. Systematic review; Nutritional therapy in gestational diabetes mellitus. Nutr. Hosp. 2013, 28, 1806–1814. [Google Scholar]
- Shi, M.; Liu, Z.L.; Steinmann, P.; Chen, J.; Chen, C.; Ma, X.T.; Han, S.H. Medical nutrition therapy for pregnant women with gestational diabetes mellitus—A retrospective cohort study. Taiwan. J. Obstet. Gynecol. 2016, 55, 666–671. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [Scilit]
- Xie, W.; Wang, Y.; Xiao, S.; Qiu, L.; Yu, Y.; Zhang, Z. Association of gestational diabetes mellitus with overall and type specific cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases: Systematic review and meta-analysis. BMJ 2022, 378, e070244. Available online: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36130740/ (accessed on 29 December 2023). [CrossRef] [Scilit] [PubMed]
- Van Ryswyk, E.; Middleton, P.; Shute, E.; Hague, W.; Crowther, C. Women’s views and knowledge regarding healthcare seeking for gestational diabetes in the postpartum period: A systematic review of qualitative/survey studies. Diabetes Res. Clin. Pract. 2015, 110, 109–122. Available online: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26421361/ (accessed on 29 December 2023). [CrossRef] [Scilit]
- Kilgour, C.; Bogossian, F.E.; Callaway, L.; Gallois, C. Postnatal gestational diabetes mellitus follow-up: Perspectives of Australian hospital clinicians and general practitioners. Women Birth 2019, 32, e24–e33. Available online: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29735392/ (accessed on 30 December 2023). [CrossRef] [Scilit] [PubMed]
- Middleton, P.; Crowther, C.A. Reminder systems for women with previous gestational diabetes mellitus to increase uptake of testing for type 2 diabetes or impaired glucose tolerance. Cochrane Database Syst. Rev. 2014, 2014, CD009578. Available online: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24638998/ (accessed on 27 December 2023). [CrossRef] [Scilit] [PubMed]
- De Gennaro, G.; Bianchi, C.; Aragona, M.; Battini, L.; Baronti, W.; Brocchi, A.; Del Prato, S.; Bertolotto, A. Postpartum screening for type 2 diabetes mellitus in women with gestational diabetes: Is it really performed? Diabetes Res. Clin. Pract. 2020, 166, 108266. Available online: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32650034/ (accessed on 29 December 2023).

| Demographic Characteristic (N = 737) | No Diabetes 471 | Diabetes (GDM, T1DM, T2DM) 266 | p-Value | GDM 255 | Pre-Existing DM 11 | p-Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Age (mean) | 30.5 ± 5.2 | 32.4 ± 5.2 | <0.001 | 32.3 ± 5.1 | 33.4 ± 6.2 | 0.475 |
| Age (years) <18 18–35 >35 | 0 (0.0%) 383 (81.5%) 87 (18.5%) | 0 (0.0%) 190 (71.4%) 76 (28.6%) | 0.002 | 0 (0.0%) 184 (72.2%) 71 (27.8%) | 00 (0.0%) 6 (54.5%) 5 (45.5%) | 0.303 |
| Parity Primipara Up to 3 4 and more | 5 (1.1%) 385 (83.3%) 72 (15.6%) | 2 (0.8%) 204 (77.3%) 58 (22.0%) | 0.083 | 2 (0.8%) 197 (77.9%) 54 (21.3%) | 0 (0.0%) 7 (63.6%) 4 (36.4%) | 0.327 |
| Ethnicity Nationals GCC Nationals Others | 261 (55.4%) 18 (3.8%) 192 (40.8%) | 161 (60.5%) 13 (4.9%) 92 (34.6%) | 0.352 | 153 (60.0%) 13 (5.1%) 89 (34.9%) | 8 (72.7%) 0 (0.0%) 3 (27.3%) | 0.858 |
| GA at booking | 21.0 ± 11.6 | 16.6 ± 11.6 | <0.001 | 16.8 ± 11.5 | 13.9 ± 12.8 | 0.418 |
| BMI (kg/m2) | 26.8 ± 4.9 | 28.9 ± 5.3 | <0.001 | 28.8 ± 5.3 | 30.1 ± 6.0 | 0.451 |
| BMI at booking <18.5 18.5–24.9 25–29.9 30 and above | 8 (1.8%) 174 (38.5%) 171 (37.8%) 99 (21.9%) | 0 (0.0%) 70 (26.6%) 88 (33.5%) 105 (39.9%) | <0.001 | 0 (0.0%) 68 (27.0%) 83 (32.9%) 101 (40.1%) | 0 (0.0%) 2 (18.2%) 5 (45.5%) 4 (36.4%) | 0.738 |
| N = 737 | No Diabetes (471) | Diabetes (GDM, T1DM, T2DM) (266) | p-Value | GDM (255) | Pre-Existing DM (11) | p-Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dietician referral | 11 (2.3%) | 140 (52.6%) | <0.001 | 135 (52.9%) | 5 (45.5%) | 0.626 |
| Referral by GA at booking 1st trimester 2nd trimester 3rd trimester | 10 (90.9%) 1 (9.1%) 0 (0.0%) | 80 (57.14%) 44 (31.43%) 16 (11.43%) | <0.001 <0.001 <0.001 | 75 (55.56%) 44 (32.59%) 16 (11.85%) | 5 (100%) 0 (0.0%) 0 (0.0%) | 0.711 0.380 0.567 |
| N = 737 | No Diabetes 471 | Diabetes (GDM, T1DM, T2DM) 266 | p-Value | GDM 255 | Pre-Existing DM 11 | p-Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Preterm birth | 57 (12.1%) | 32 (12.0%) | 0.977 | 29 (11.4%) | 3 (27.3%) | 0.133 |
| C-Section | 151 (32.1%) | 121 (45.5%) | <0.001 | 113 (44.3%) | 8 (72.7%) | 0.064 |
| Birth Weight (kg) | 3.1 ± 1.4 | 3.1 ± 0.5 | 0.980 | 3.1 ± 0.5 | 3.1 ± 0.5 | 0.774 |
| GA at delivery | 38.5 ± 2.8 | 38.3 ± 2.2 | 0.222 | 38.3 ± 2.2 | 37.0 ± 1.0 | 0.055 |
| Audit Standard | Type 1 (4 Patients) | Type 2 (7 Patients) |
|---|---|---|
| Folic acid 5 mg supplementation in early pregnancy/preconception | All 100% | 5/7 (71%) |
| Aspirin during pregnancy | 2/4 (50%) | 3/7 (43%) |
| Referred to be seen by the Endocrinologist | 100% | 100% |
| HbA1c check in each trimester of pregnancy | 100% | (86%) |
| Evidence of retinal assessment during pregnancy, whether it is done or advised | 100% | 2/7 (29%) |
Disclaimer/Publisher’s Note: The statements, opinions and data contained in all publications are solely those of the individual author(s) and contributor(s) and not of MDPI and/or the editor(s). MDPI and/or the editor(s) disclaim responsibility for any injury to people or property resulting from any ideas, methods, instructions or products referred to in the content. |
© 2026 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license.
Share and Cite
Abdullahi, H.; Mohan, S.; Samuel, C.G.; Ibrahim, I. Diabetes in Pregnancy: A Review of Service Provision and Practice at a Maternity Center. Life 2026, 16, 410. https://doi.org/10.3390/life16030410
Abdullahi H, Mohan S, Samuel CG, Ibrahim I. Diabetes in Pregnancy: A Review of Service Provision and Practice at a Maternity Center. Life. 2026; 16(3):410. https://doi.org/10.3390/life16030410
Chicago/Turabian StyleAbdullahi, Hala, Suruchi Mohan, Chinnu George Samuel, and Ibrahim Ibrahim. 2026. "Diabetes in Pregnancy: A Review of Service Provision and Practice at a Maternity Center" Life 16, no. 3: 410. https://doi.org/10.3390/life16030410
APA StyleAbdullahi, H., Mohan, S., Samuel, C. G., & Ibrahim, I. (2026). Diabetes in Pregnancy: A Review of Service Provision and Practice at a Maternity Center. Life, 16(3), 410. https://doi.org/10.3390/life16030410

