Leveraging Technology to Improve Diabetes Care in Pregnancy

Clin Diabetes. 2020 Dec;38(5):486-494. doi: 10.2337/cd20-0047.

Abstract

Pregnant women with diabetes are at higher risk of adverse outcomes. Prevention of such outcomes depends on strict glycemic control, which is difficult to achieve and maintain. A variety of technologies exist to aid in diabetes management for nonpregnant patients. However, adapting such tools to meet the demands of pregnancy presents multiple challenges. This article reviews the key attributes digital technologies must offer to best support diabetes management during pregnancy, as well as some digital tools developed specifically to meet this need. Despite the opportunities digital health tools present to improve the care of people with diabetes, in the absence of robust data and large research studies, the ability to apply such technologies to diabetes in pregnancy will remain imperfect.