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Just 5% of women with type 1 diabetes receive preconception counseling

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Only about one in 20 women with type 1 diabetes received preconception counseling, according to data presented at the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists Annual Clinical and Scientific Meeting.

Elizabeth Disney, MD, of the University of Utah Hospital and colleagues reviewed records of 541 women from a single clinic with ICD-9 and ICD-10 codes indicating a type 1 diabetes diagnosis.

In addition, 25% of pregnant women with type 1 diabetes received contraceptive counseling and 13% used long-acting reversible contraception. Disney and colleagues also found 11% of primary care physician visits documented long-acting reversible contraception use counseling vs. 27% of OB/GYNs, 26% of maternal-fetal medicine specialists and 10% of endocrinologists.

“Reproductive age type 1 diabetic women have high health care utilization, yet documentation of preconception and contraceptive counseling is sparse,” Disney and colleagues concluded. “Educating non-OB/GYN providers could avoid missed opportunities to improve pregnancy planning and outcomes.” – by Janel Miller

Reference: Disney E, et al. “How are we doing? Documentation of preconception and contraceptive counseling and LARC use in type 1 diabetic women.” Presented at: American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists Annual Clinical and Scientific Meeting; May 3-6, 2019; Nashville.

Disclosures: The authors report no relevant financial disclosures.