Outcome of pregnancy complicated by diabetes: experience with 232 patients in a 4 year period.

The outcome of pregnancy was reviewed in 232 women with diabetes (Group 1 = 72 Insulin Dependent Diabetes; Group 2 = 9 Non Insulin Dependent Diabetes and 151 Gestational Diabetes) seen at a major metropolitan teaching hospital in the 4 yr period 1978-1981 inclusive. The perinatal mortality was 5.6% and there was a high rate of congenital malformations (5.6% major, 7.7% minor) with no difference in incidence between the 2 groups. Infants of women whose pregnancies extended beyond 37 weeks of gestation had a reduced incidence and severity of respiratory distress syndrome. Measurement of amniotic fluid lamellar body phospholipid proved accurate in predicting this complication. Neonatal hypoglycaemia correlated with poor maternal blood glucose control in the third trimester and during parturition.