Pregnancy in women with diabetes mellitus. Fifteen years' experience: 1970-1985.

The perinatal mortality of 613 children who were born to women with diabetes mellitus who attended the Diabetic Clinic of The Royal Women's Hospital between 1970 and 1985 was 4.5%. In 399 children who were born to mothers with pre-existing diabetes (95% of whom were insulin-dependent) the over-all perinatal mortality was 7.5%. In successive five-year periods, perinatal mortality in this group declined from 12.2% to 3.9% (1981-1985). In 214 children who were born to mothers with gestational diabetes, the perinatal loss was 1.4%. Between 1970 and 1985, the fetal loss that was attributed to poor control of diabetes declined; however, the prevalence of congenital abnormalities remained unchanged and these were the major cause of fetal loss in 1981-1985. Other high-risk categories that were identified included obstetric complications, particularly that of pre-eclampsia. Neonatal complications had little effect on the eventual outcome, but respiratory distress, macrosomia, hypoglycaemia, jaundice, polycythaemia, hypocalcaemia and hypomagnesaemia were documented frequently and required specialized assessment. The causes of the improvement in the outcome of pregnancy in women with pre-existing diabetes appear to be multifactorial and due to team management in a specialized unit. A reduction in the increased prevalence of major congenital abnormalities is the major challenge for the future.