WHO to Review Global Guidelines for Detecting High Blood Sugar in Pregnancy
The WHO announced a review of its guidelines for diagnosing high blood sugar during pregnancy, which affects one in six births worldwide, aiming to update its 2013 recommendations.
The World Health Organization (WHO) announced that it will review its guidelines for detecting and diagnosing high blood sugar levels during pregnancy.
Pregnancy sugar tests are designed to identify conditions that may affect the health of both mother and child. However, determining whom to test, when to test, and how to distinguish between pre-existing diabetes and gestational diabetes remains a complex challenge for healthcare systems worldwide.
According to WHO data, high blood sugar during pregnancy affects roughly one in six births globally, amounting to approximately 21 million cases annually. This definition encompasses various conditions: diabetes diagnosed prior to pregnancy, diabetes diagnosed for the first time during pregnancy, and gestational diabetes. Accurate identification is critical because elevated blood sugar is linked to an increased risk of complications, including gestational hypertension, stillbirth, macrosomia (abnormally large babies), and neonatal hypoglycemia.
A panel of WHO experts is scheduled to discuss the scientific evidence next month. The organization plans to update its diagnostic recommendations, which were last published in 2013, in light of new research on screening, diagnosis, and classification methods. Pregnant women should continue following the standard medical guidance provided by their healthcare professionals until official guidelines are finalized and implemented.
