Continuous glucose monitoring during pregnancy for women with type 1 diabetes

Our researchers sought the views of women with diabetes to see if devices which can continuously monitor blood glucose levels could help them have a healthy pregnancy.
  • Authors list

    Dr Sara White, Dr Sabrina Curwen, Dr Anna Brackenridge

This project took place at our London centre which operated between 1995 and 2021. 

This project is now complete

Why do we need this research?

Women with type 1 diabetes are at risk of experiencing complications during pregnancy which could affect their baby’s health, including being born too large. We need to find ways to help these women to control their blood sugar levels, to reduce the chances of complications during pregnancy.

What happened in this project?

New equipment which can continuously monitor the level of glucose (sugar) in the blood has recently been made available for people with diabetes. This could replace the standard method of checking blood glucose, which involves a finger-prick blood test.

In this project, our researchers sought the opinions of pregnant women with type 1 diabetes. They wanted to see how these women used continuous glucose monitoring, and a new device called Freestyle Libre.

23 women responded to a survey, and reported that they found both of these technologies useful for controlling their blood glucose level throughout pregnancy. The women hoped that more healthcare professionals will be aware of these devices as they become more widely available.

What difference did this project make?

The views gathered in this project have contributed to an educational package for women and healthcare professionals about continuous glucose monitoring. Making these technologies more widely available will help increase the chances that women with type 1 diabetes can have an uncomplicated pregnancy and a healthy baby.

Thanks for your interest in our research

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