Medications, Pregnancy and Lactation

Diabetes and pregnancy: Interventions, glycemia control, and risks for the fetus

Given that type 2 diabetes is increasing and that 50% of pregnancies are unplanned, a growing number of pregnant women will be exposed to hypoglycemic agents during the gestational period. However, because there is concern regarding the adequacy of glycemia control and the potential teratogenicity of these agents, it is common practice to switch to insulin when the pregnancy is diagnosed.

Given that hypoglycemic agents are easier to take than insulin, this study aims to compare the rate of glycemia control between pregnant users of hypoglycemic agents and pregnant users of insulin among type 2 diabetes women and to compare the rate of birth defects between the same two study populations. The study is being conducted within the Quebec Pregnancy Registry.