Experts warn mothers and babies at risk without better diabetes care

Southampton researchers have joined a call for urgent action to improve care around pregnancy for women with type 2 diabetes.

The call follows a new consensus statement developed by an expert group of clinicians and researchers from the UK and Ireland. This includes researchers in Southampton.

The statement sets out critical gaps in current knowledge around care for women with early-onset type 2 diabetes.

It also lays out clear priorities for future research. This could help to improve support for these women and their babies.

Urgent need to rethink care

Type 2 diabetes in women of reproductive age is rising. Yet evidence to guide safe and effective care across pregnancy is limited.

Being diagnosed with type 2 diabetes at a young age increases the risk of serious problems during pregnancy. It also raises the risk of long-term health problems for both mothers and their babies.

The consensus statement was published last week in Diabetic Medicine. It brings together evidence from three large systematic reviews. It also draws on expert and audience discussions at the 2025 Diabetes UK Annual Professional Conference.

Dr Danielle Schoenaker contributed to the statement. She is a researcher at the University of Southampton and NIHR Southampton Biomedical Research Centre.

The statement highlights an urgent need to rethink how care is designed and delivered for women with early-onset type 2 diabetes. It covers the care they receive before, during and after pregnancy.

Claire Meek is Professor of Chemical Pathology and Diabetes in Pregnancy at the University of Leicester. She receives funding from the NIHR Leicester Biomedical Research Centre. She says a lack of evidence leaves women and clinicians navigating pregnancy with too little support.

“Women with early-onset type 2 diabetes are often managing complex health needs at a young age. Yet the systems around them are not designed with that reality in mind,” she said.

“We need coordinated, evidence-based care. This needs to starts before pregnancy, continue after birth, and recognise the wider social and cultural barriers many women face.”

Recommending changes

The group identifies several priority areas. They say research and service change in these areas would make an immediate difference.

Priority areas include improving access to care before pregnancy, known as preconception care. They also suggest increasing support to achieve a healthy weight before, during and after pregnancy.

Another priority area is strengthening postnatal follow-ups after birth. The researchers say this would help to reduce long-term risks, such as cardiovascular disease.

The statement also stresses the importance of addressing inequalities. These include those linked to deprivation, ethnicity, language barriers and access to healthcare.

The group emphasise that listening to women’s experiences must sit at the heart of future work. Many women report feeling judged or stigmatised, or poorly informed about pregnancy risks. They also report feeling unsupported once specialist maternity care ends.

Calling for action

The consensus statement calls on funders, policymakers and healthcare leaders to act now.

It warns that without targeted investment, preventable harms to women and babies will continue to rise.

“Too often, support begins only once a woman is already pregnant,” said Dr Schoenaker. “But for those with early-onset type 2 diabetes, the greatest opportunity to improve outcomes for mum and baby starts much earlier.

“We are calling for preconception care to become a routine and accessible part of diabetes care.

“This would give women and their partners the time, information and practical support they need. It would allow them to optimise health before pregnancy and make informed decisions together.

“By embedding preparation into everyday care and support services, and addressing the social barriers many families face, we can shift from risk management to prevention. This would give parents and babies the best possible start.”