Introduction : Women with diabetes are dissatisfied and disenfranchised with the preconception and pregnancy care they receive. Research studies reveal that appropriate care is not being provided to women at risk of or whom have diabetes. So optimal maternal, foetal, neonatal and childhood outcomes in pregnancy, during labour and birth, postnatally and most importantly for the remainder of life aren’t being achieved.
Aims : Research findings mean nothing if they aren’t utilised to improve policies and practices. Evidenced based services will not be accessed by consumers if it doesn’t suit their needs. Collaboration between clinicians and consumers must take place if short and long term optimal health and wellbeing outcomes are to be achieved.
Methods : Anecdotal reports emerge everyday from over 1000 Australian women with T1DM in a moderated closed Facebook group indicating they don’t receive multidisciplinary care throughout the preconception to postnatal period. From numerous presenters at DIP2019 in Florence of Italy, it has been highlighted that the preconception and pregnancy window is the prime opportunity for multidisciplinary teams to educate and empower childbearing couples to reduce adverse pregnancy outcomes and prevent long term non-communicable diseases.
Results : Women with diabetes are feeling disempowered by the pregnancy care they receive. Women continue to develop polyhydraminos, preeclampsia and preterm birth. Women are experiencing PTSD following traumatic birth experiences. Women are experiencing PND following challenging breastfeeding experiences. Women continue to be separated from their babies at birth. Women’s relationships with their partners and children are strained. The women are requesting multidisciplinary care and clinicians know multidisciplinary care yields optimal outcomes. Yet multidisciplinary is largely not being executed at the ground level where women need access to it.
Conclusions : FIGO explicitly explain that diabetes in pregnancy care is only beneficial if women and children are followed up long term. Women and their families deserve access to multidisciplinary care. Our model of care must change so women and families live optimal lifestyles with less diabetes related burden.