Pregnancy toolkit for women with Type 1 diabetes

Type 1 diabetes charity JDRF has launched its new Pregnancy Toolkit. It is packed with lots of useful information for UK people living with the condition and planning a pregnancy.

Baby planning is an exciting time for any couple, but if you have Type 1 diabetes, there are some extra things to think about. This new free Toolkit – written with input from healthcare professionals, JDRF volunteers and women with Type 1 diabetes – helps explain the best way to achieve a healthy pregnancy for both mum and baby.

London resident Rowena Gracey has had Type 1 diabetes for almost 20 years and struggled to find the facts she needed when pregnant with her son George. She said: “I found there was very little information available to explain what to expect and how to manage my condition.

“JDRF’s Toolkit provides really practical advice for what you need to consider pre-conception, what happens at each stage of your pregnancy, and who you can call on for support to keep your health in the best shape possible. I only wish it was around when I was pregnant!”

The Pregnancy Toolkit comes after JDRF funded researchers found that people with Type 1 diabetes tend to have fewer children on average than those without the condition. There is no clear explanation for why, but the scientists – who published their findings in September last year – believe this may be because having Type 1 diabetes can be an extra burden for women during pregnancy. The Toolkit could help to relieve this pressure.

The Toolkit covers each trimester of pregnancy, helping mums-to-be understand what to expect and how their management of Type 1 diabetes will be affected by their growing baby. There is also a helpful pre-pregnancy checklist of things you need to think about before trying for a baby. Additional chapters cover the birth and post-pregnancy.

Type 1 diabetes is a chronic life-long condition which often strikes in childhood.  The exact cause of the condition is unknown but it is not linked to lifestyle or diet. Managed by multiple daily insulin injections or pump infusions, blood glucose readings have to be taken several times a day by finger prick blood tests. Keeping blood glucose levels in a healthy range is a challenge to anyone with Type 1 diabetes – but pregnancy can introduce a whole new set of challenges.

Susan Quinn, Diabetes Specialist Midwife at St Mary’s Hospital in Manchester, said: “Having a good experience of birth and a healthy baby starts even before pregnancy. From preconception to a woman holding her baby in her arms – this time can be complex and challenging.

“The Toolkit is provided as part of specialist care for women living with Type 1 diabetes. They will be able to access important facts and information throughout their pregnancy journey.”

The free toolkit is available to download now from the JDRF website.