Diabetes in pregnancy: Management of diabetes and its complications from pre-conception to the postnatal period
This is an extract from the guidance. The complete guidance is available at guidance.nice.org.uk/cg63
Woman- and baby-centred care
This guideline offers best practice advice on the care of women with diabetes who are planning to become pregnant, or who are already pregnant, and their newborn babies.
Treatment and care should take into account women's needs and preferences. Women with diabetes should have the opportunity to make informed decisions about their care and treatment, in partnership with their healthcare professionals. If women do not have the capacity to make decisions, healthcare professionals should follow the Department of Health's advice on consent and the code of practice that accompanies the Mental Capacity Act. In Wales, healthcare professionals should follow advice on consent from the Welsh Government.
Good communication between healthcare professionals and women is essential. It should be supported by evidence-based written information tailored to the woman's needs. Treatment and care, and the information women are given about it, should be culturally appropriate. It should also be accessible to women with additional needs such as physical, sensory or learning disabilities, and to women who do not speak or read English.
Care of young women in transition between paediatric and adult services should be planned and managed according to the best practice guidance described in 'Transition: getting it right for young people'. Adult and paediatric healthcare teams should work jointly to provide care for young women with diabetes.