Pregnancy complicated by diabetes: what is the best level of HbA1c for conception?

• Published in: Acta diabetologica 2010-09, Vol.47 (3), p.187-192
• Main Authors: Lapolla, Annunziata, Dalfrà, Maria Grazia, Fedele, Domenico
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Blood tests; Congenital diseases; Diabetes; Diabetes Mellitus - blood; Diabetes Mellitus - drug therapy; Diabetes Mellitus - physiopathology; Female; Fertilization - physiology; Glycated Hemoglobin A - analysis; Glycated Hemoglobin A - metabolism; Humans; Hypoglycemia - blood; Hypoglycemia - complications; Internal Medicine; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Metabolic Diseases; Metabolism; Models, Biological; Obstetrics; Pregnancy; Pregnancy in Diabetics - blood; Pregnancy in Diabetics - drug therapy; Pregnancy Outcome; Review Article
• ISSN: 0940-5429; 1432-5233
• DOI: 10.1007/s00592-010-0199-z

To reduce the congenital malformations that occur in pregnancies complicated by diabetes, it is essential to achieve and maintain a good metabolic control before conception. In this context, measuring HbA1c is considered as the gold standard for monitoring metabolic control in diabetes and various different HbA1c levels have been recommended as optimal in the preconception period for diabetic women planning a pregnancy. An analysis of key studies published on this issue until now clearly shows that HbA1c levels correlate closely with the occurrence of congenital malformations and other neonatal complications characteristic of pregnant diabetic women. HbA1c is therefore one of the key markers to use in monitoring metabolic control, and the most reasonable approach would seem to be to use a standardized measurement method and aim for HbA1c levels resembling normal values as closely as possible, with a view to preventing episodes of hypoglycemia.