Pregnancy Loss and Neonatal Death in Women with Type 1 or Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

Tim Cundy, MD

In women with type 1 DM, the perinatal mortality rate decreased substantially in most western countries by the early 1980s and has remained stable over the past 25 years. The decrease in perinatal mortality was achieved predominantly by a reduction in the number of late intrauterine deaths and stillbirths. Currently, the major causes of pregnancy loss in type 1 DM are major congenital anomalies and complications of prematurity. Pregnancy in type 2 DM has been recognized as a problem in developing countries since the late 1980s, but is now emerging as a significant problem in western countries, particularly in disadvantaged communities.