Diabetes affecting pregnancy can be pre-existing diabetes (that is, type 1, type 2, or other types of diabetes), or might arise as a result of the pregnancy (gestational diabetes), and has serious implications for the health of mothers and babies.

This report:

• identifies and describes national data sources available for monitoring the effects of diabetes during pregnancy on mothers and babies
• identifies current data gaps and alternate data sources for monitoring outcomes associated with diabetes during pregnancy
• explores the feasibility of data linkage to improve the monitoring of outcomes.

Findings include:

• Linking datasets containing birth records, complications and treatment would provide a more complete assessment
• Data on diabetes in pregnancy are available from various data sources, all of which have strengths and weaknesses
• Data required to monitor diabetes in pregnancy and fill current gaps are not available in any one data set
• Long term complications and outcomes by pre-existing diabetes types cannot be assessed from current national datasets.