Overview
Our Pre-Pregnancy Diabetes Clinic at Darent Valley Hospital supports women who have diabetes and are thinking about having a baby.
You can ask your GP or diabetes team to refer you to the clinic.
The clinic runs once a month and is led by a Diabetes Specialist Nurse and a Diabetes Specialist Midwife.
The aim of the clinic is to help you prepare for a healthy pregnancy. We will talk about:
- Managing your blood sugar levels
- Reviewing your medication if needed
- How diabetes can affect pregnancy
- Ways to improve your health before becoming pregnant
We recommend asking for a referral as soon as you start thinking about having a baby so that you can get the support and advice you need as early as possible.
Useful Links & Information
If you become pregnant and you have diabetes, you should go on to have a healthy baby. But there are some possible complications you should be aware of. Click here to find diabetes and pregnancy information on the nhs.uk website.
You will attend two different clinics during your pregnancy.
Diabetes Clinic
This clinic includes:
- An endocrine consultant
- A diabetes specialist nurse
- A dietitian
The team will:
- Review your blood sugar levels
- Give you advice about healthy eating
- Review your medicines
- Support you throughout your pregnancy
We usually recommend appointments at least every two weeks.
Obstetric Clinic
This clinic includes:
- An obstetric consultant
- Diabetes specialist midwives
You will usually be seen at:
- 16 weeks
- 22 weeks
- 28 weeks
- 32 weeks
- 36 weeks
These appointments help us provide specialist care for you and your baby.
We will discuss:
- Your diabetes control
- Your baby's growth and development
- Any risks or complications linked to diabetes in pregnancy
Every pregnancy is different, so your care will be based on your individual needs.
Pregnancy can affect your eyes when you have diabetes.
We will refer you for eye screening:
- Once in the first trimester
- Once in the third trimester
If any problems are found, you may be offered another eye screening in the second trimester.
The test is the same as the routine diabetic eye screening you may already have outside of pregnancy.
It helps to check for problems that could affect your eyesight.
Please note that your local eye screening team will arrange these appointments. Darent Valley Hospital does not book them.
You will have routine blood tests offered during pregnancy.
We will also arrange:
- HbA1c blood tests in the first and second trimesters
- Kidney function tests
This is because diabetes can sometimes affect the kidneys during pregnancy.
You may need other blood tests if your healthcare team feels they are needed.
Because you have diabetes, we recommend some extra scans.
Early Pregnancy Scan
We offer an early pregnancy scan between 7 and 9 weeks.
This scan is often performed internally (a vaginal scan).
If we are told about your pregnancy after 9 weeks, we may not be able to arrange this scan.
Baby's Heart Scan
You will be offered a special scan to look at your baby's heart between 21 and 22 weeks.
This scan is usually carried out at Medway Maritime Hospital, although it may sometimes take place at another hospital.
The scan checks that:
- The heart chambers look normal
- The blood vessels are connected correctly
This is offered because diabetes can increase the chance of heart problems in babies.
The hospital carrying out the scan will contact you directly with an appointment.
The scan may take between 20 minutes and 1 hour.
If a heart problem is found, the specialist doctor will explain:
- What the heart problem is
- What treatment may be needed after birth
- What this may mean for your baby's future
- The choices available to you
There will be plenty of time for questions.
Growth Scans
You will usually be offered growth scans at:
- 28 weeks
- 32 weeks
- 36 weeks
These scans check how your baby is growing.
The number of scans may change depending on the results.
Diabetes can sometimes cause:
- A larger baby
- A smaller baby
- Too much fluid around the baby
- Differences in the baby's growth
- Problems with how well the placenta is working
These findings may affect when and how your baby is born.
Your obstetric team will discuss all options with you and support you to make decisions that are right for you.
Gestational diabetes is high blood sugar (glucose) that develops during pregnancy and usually disappears after giving birth.
It can happen at any stage of pregnancy, but is more common in the second or third trimester.
Click here to find gestational diabetes information on the nhs.uk website.
If your results show that you have gestational diabetes, you will be invited to meet the diabetes team.
During this session, we will talk about:
- Your test results
- What gestational diabetes is
- How to check your blood sugar levels
- Healthy eating and exercise
- Treatment options
- Planning for birth
- Care after your baby is born
- Any questions or concerns you may have
Sometimes this information may be given over the phone, depending on your individual circumstances.
Click here to watch our Managing Gestational Diabetes video.