Pregnancies complicated by diabetes--North Dakota, 1980-1992.

Women with established diabetes mellitus (EDM) or gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) are at increased risk for maternal complications during pregnancy; infants born to women with diabetes also are at increased risk for adverse outcomes, including infant death, congenital malformation, birth injury, and hyaline membrane disease/respiratory distress syndrome (1). These health problems may be prevented in women with diabetes through improved glycemic control and through preconception and prenatal care (2,3). Population-based surveillance of EDM and GDM can assist in measuring the burden of diabetes during pregnancy and in identifying target groups for interventions (4). To determine the prevalence of pregnancies complicated by diabetes in North Dakota, the North Dakota State Department of Health and Consolidated Laboratories (NDSDH) studied birth certificate data for 1980-1992. This report summarizes the results of that assessment.