Raising awareness of planning for pregnancy on World Diabetes Day.

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Healthcare professionals are encouraged to improve their understanding of the needs of women with diabetes in relation to planning for pregnancy for World Diabetes Day. Babies born to women with diabetes are more likely to be affected by congenital anomalies, including spina bifida, heart and kidney anomalies. However, it is well established that good blood glucose control before and during pregnancy can reduce this risk!

Developed by researchers at Queen’s University Belfast, Northern Ireland, in conjunction with the South Eastern and Belfast Health and Social Care Trusts, the new website is aimed at women with diabetes and those who care for them. As well as a website helping women to prepare for pregnancy, the resource has an evidence based e-learning component aimed at all healthcare professionals who care for women with diabetes- GPs, pharmacists, practice nurses etc. The resource offers a unique opportunity to educate women and healthcare professionals on the importance of planning for pregnancy and also provides a direct link to local pre-pregnancy care clinics in Northern Ireland for those who are actively seeking to plan for pregnancy.

The project was preceded by a DVD “Women with Diabetes: Things you need to know but maybe don’t!” funded by Diabetes UK in 2010. Women who viewed the DVD resource were more likely to plan for pregnancy and to take folic acid. This online website adaption aims to reach a larger audience of both women with diabetes and the healthcare professionals who care for them, and was supported by a Knowledge Transfer Award from the HSC R&D Division of the Public Health Agency. 

Click on the links below to view the video launch:

Professor David McCance, Consultant Endocrinologist at the Belfast Health and Social Care Trust, added:

Improving health and healthcare experience requires that healthcare professionals have access to education which is evidence based and clinically relevant so that we can continue to provide the best level of care for our patients.

Dr Aisling Gough, Women with Diabetes Champion, added:

World Diabetes Day is a global opportunity to raise awareness, and improve education about the importance of planning for pregnancy. By ensuring women with diabetes are aware of the risks of not planning for pregnancy, we can work together with women and healthcare professionals to reduce the number of unplanned pregnancies.

Every GP and Pharmacy in Northern Ireland has received DVDs, posters and flyers about the resource. You can also follow us on twitter - www.twitter.com/DiabetesWomen