Ketoacidosis in diabetic pregnancy.

A study was carried out to determine the incidence of maternal ketoacidosis in 635 insulin-treated diabetic pregnancies managed in a combined antenatal/diabetic clinic between 1971 and 1990. A total of 11 episodes occurred, representing 1.73% of diabetic pregnancies of which 9 were in the antenatal period. Overall fetal loss including spontaneous abortion was 22%, but there was only one fetal death in the seven episodes of ketoacidosis in the second and third trimesters. Ketoacidosis is an infrequent occurrence in diabetic pregnancy managed in a combined clinic and is not associated with a high fetal loss after the first trimester.