The World Health Organization (WHO) today published the first global guidelines for the management of diabetes during pregnancy, a condition that affects around one in six pregnancies – or 21 million women a year. The new recommendations provide a critical roadmap to address this growing health challenge and prevent serious complications for both women and their children.
Diabetes in pregnancy, if not effectively treated, significantly increases the risk of life-threatening conditions such as pre-eclampsia, stillbirth and birth injuries. It also has long-term consequences, increasing the risk of developing type 2 diabetes and cardiometabolic diseases later in life for both mother and child. The burden is greater in low- and middle-income countries, where access to specialized care and resources may be limited, yet the need is greater.
The WHO has long had diabetes guidance and pregnancy guidance, but this is the first time we have issued a specific standard of care for the management of diabetes during pregnancy. These guidelines are grounded in the realities of women’s lives and health needs and provide clear, evidence-based strategies to deliver high-quality care for every woman, everywhere.”
Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General
The guidelines include 27 key recommendations, focusing on:
- Personalized care: Advice on diet, physical activity and blood sugar goals.
- Optimal tracking: All women with diabetes should have their blood sugar checked regularly, both at clinic visits and at home.
- Personalized treatment: Special treatment regimens for diabetes type 1, type 2 and gestational diabetes when pharmacotherapy is required.
- Expert support: Multidisciplinary care for women with preexisting diabetes.
The issuance of these guidelines marks a pivotal step in enhancing maternal health and combating noncommunicable diseases (NCDs). They highlight the importance of integrating diabetes care into routine antenatal services and ensuring equitable access to essential medicines and technologies.
The guideline was launched on World Diabetes Day 2025, this year’s theme, ‘Diabetes at all stages of life’, recognizes that every person living with diabetes must have access to comprehensive care, supportive environments and policies that promote health, dignity and self-management.
Diabetes is one of the fastest growing health challenges of our time, affecting over 800 million people worldwide. It is the leading cause of heart disease, kidney failure, blindness and amputation, and its impact spans generations and health systems. In recent decades, prevalence has increased most in low- and middle-income countries, where access to care and essential medicines remains limited.
Focusing on diabetes at all stages of life, this year’s campaign calls for urgent action to ensure no one is left behind – from children and teenagers to the elderly – and highlights the importance of a lifetime approach to prevention, management and overall wellbeing.
