Pregnancy complicated by diabetic nephropathy.

Diabetes mellitus is a high risk complication of pregnancy and this is particularly true whenever long standing diabetes is complicated by diabetic nephropathy. Five cases are reported of diabetic pregnancy complicated by nephropathy. Four women delivered healthy babies, and one patient aborted spontaneously in the 9th week of gestation. It is suggested that first and foremost in complicated diabetic pregnancy strict normoglycemia should be adhered to prior and all through pregnancy. Our findings based on these cases also suggest that: Pregnancy does not adversely affect the renal status of a diabetic woman or vice versa. Creatinine clearance is not worsened by the course of pregnancy in the majority of these patients and proteinuria per se does not add additional risks to pregnancy or outcome. Hypertension is a separate risk factor affecting the pregnancy despite normoglycemia. Motivation of these patients to maintain normoglycemia as well as bed rest for prolonged periods, intensive use of fetal monitoring, evaluation of fetal lung maturity and improved neonatal care may contribute to improved perinatal outcome.