Managing Diabetes in Women of Childbearing Age

There were 13.4 million women (ages 20 and older) with either type 1 or type 2 diabetes in the United States in 2012, according to the CDC.¹ By 2050, overall prevalence of dia­betes is expected to double or triple.² Since the number of women with diabetes will continue to increase, it is important for clinicians to familiarize themselves with management of the condition in those of childbearing age—particularly with regard to medication selection.

Diabetes management in women of childbearing age pre­sents multiple complexities. First, strict glucose control from preconception through pregnancy is necessary to reduce the risk for complications in mother and ­fetus. The American Diabetes Association (ADA) recommends an A1C of less than 7% during the preconception period, if achievable without hypoglycemia.³ Full glycemic targets for women are outlined in Table 1.

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