Project summary
Women with type 1 or type 2 diabetes are at a higher risk of stillbirth and premature birth. Dr Sharon Mackin and her team will analyse national data in Scotland to identify the causes and risk factors for these outcomes. This could lead to better care and decision-making around delivery timing, so that more mothers with diabetes experience a healthy pregnancy and give birth to healthy babies.
Background to research
Women with type 1 or type 2 diabetes and their babies can be at a higher risk of difficulties during pregnancy and birth. They are five times more likely to experience stillbirth. While one in three women with type 1 diabetes and one in five women with type 2 give birth to premature babies.
Some women with diabetes will be advised to give birth early to help prevent problems. Yet it's unclear if early delivery is always the best approach.
We need a deeper understanding of the causes of pregnancy complications in diabetes, and who is at highest risk, to help women and their doctors make more informed decisions around birth timing.
Research aims
Dr Sharon Mackin will study the latest data from pregnant women and women with diabetes in Scotland to uncover more about the risks.
They'll work out up-to-date national rates for stillbirth, premature birth, and newborn health issues in women with diabetes. The team will look for factors that might affect pregnancy outcomes and newborn health, to identify who may be at higher or lower risk. These include blood sugar levels, complications, and the use of diabetes technologies.
They'll also pinpoint the potential causes of stillbirth and early pregnancy loss in women with diabetes.
They’ll then examine the risk of stillbirth against the risk of other complications for the baby, such as needing intensive care, at different stages of pregnancy. This will help researchers understand what the consequences are of giving birth at particular weeks of pregnancy.
Potential benefit to people with diabetes
Up to one in six pregnant mums are affected by diabetes, and therefore have a higher risk of stillbirth and premature birth. So it’s important to understand how best to care for women and their developing babies.
The findings of this study could help to pinpoint which pregnancies are at greatest risk of complications and when it’s best to offer women early birth. This would hopefully help mums to make informed decisions with their clinicians around birth and reduce the risk of heartbreaking complications.
