Diabetes mellitus and pregnancy - management and results at Rikshospitalet, Oslo, 1970-1977

During the years 1970–1977, 234 pregnant diabetics were treated in Oslo. A regimen of close metabolic and obstetric control was used. The total perinatal mortality was 4.3%, and 3.1% in 160 patients followed from before week 28. In 74% of patients mean blood glucose (determined 4 times daily) during the last 5–6 weeks of pregnancy was below 6 mmol/l and in only one patient above 8 mmol/l. There was a low incidence of ketoacidosis (5 patients), pyelonephritis (3 patients), and severe preeclampsia (1 patient), although mild to moderate preeclampsia occurred in 28 patients. Preeclampsia was not associated with foetal loss. Macrosomia was rare. Respiratory distress occurred in 33 infants, in most cases light to moderate. Two foetal deaths were associated with respiratory distress. Progression of retinopathy was frequent, and appearance of or progression of proliferative changes occurred in 15 patients with retinopathy before pregnancy. Loss of visual acuity was rare, and reading vision was not lost by any patients. Induced vaginal delivery has been used in half the deliveries during the last years, whereas Caesarean section was preferred during the first years. Mean duration of pregnancy at delivery has been 260 days, 256 days during the first four years, and 262 days during the last four.