Updated NHS England guidance on managing diabetes during pregnancy now available

New guidance from NHS England on managing pre-existing diabetes during pregnancy has been released.

Version three of Saving Babies’ Lives — a national initiative to reduce stillbirths and early neonatal deaths — includes updated interventions aligned with the country’s hybrid closed-loop (HCL) strategy, along with additional explanatory sections on HCL systems.

Co-developed by clinical experts, this version refreshes all existing elements, drawing on national guidance, such as that from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) and the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists Green Top guidelines.

This guidance recommends multidisciplinary team pathways and an intensified focus on glucose management within maternity settings, in line with the NHS Long Term Plan and NICE guidance.

It provides clear guidance on digital assessment of glucose control, the use of HbA1c for risk stratification and targeted support, and consistent access to evidence-based continuous glucose monitoring and pregnancy-specific HCL technology to optimise glucose management.

Professor Partha Kar, NHS England GIRFT Type 1 Diabetes and Technology Lead, said on X: “The work in improving pregnancy outcomes in those living with diabetes continues.”

To access the guidance, click here.