For most pregnant women, miscarriage is a natural and common thing, with one in five pregnancies ending in miscarriage. However, it does not mean that one should not try to decrease the risk of miscarriage.

One such way is through the use of anti-diabetic medications for women with diabetes, which, according to a recent study, reduces the risk of miscarriage.

What is Diabetes

Diabetes is a medical condition that occurs when the blood glucose or blood sugar is too high. The glucose comes from the food we eat, and the insulin, a hormone produced by the pancreas, helps the glucose enter the cells to be used for energy.

In diabetes, the body’s ability to produce or use insulin is impaired, leading to high blood sugar levels.

Types of Diabetes

There are three types of diabetes, and they are:.

Type 1 diabetes: It is an autoimmune condition in which the body’s immune system attacks and destroys the cells in the pancreas that produce insulin. It is usually diagnosed in children and young adults.
Type 2 diabetes: It is the most common type of diabetes, and it occurs when the body becomes resistant to insulin or does not produce enough insulin. It is usually diagnosed in adults.
Gestational diabetes: It is a type of diabetes that occurs during pregnancy and usually resolves after delivery. However, women with gestational diabetes are at a higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes later in life.

Diabetes and Miscarriage

Several studies have shown that women with diabetes are more likely to have a miscarriage than women without diabetes.

This is because high blood sugar levels can damage the developing fetus’s organs and cause malformations, stillbirth, or miscarriage.

The Study

A recent study conducted by the University of Southampton found that antidiabetic medications, such as metformin and insulin, reduce the risk of miscarriage in women with diabetes.

The study analyzed data from over 2000 pregnancies with pre-existing diabetes, both type 1 and type 2, and compared the outcomes of those who took anti-diabetic medication with those who did not.

The Results

The study found that women with pre-existing diabetes who took anti-diabetic medication had a lower risk of miscarriage than those who did not.

Specifically, 38.4% of women who did not take medication had a spontaneous miscarriage, compared to 21.3% of women who took metformin alone, and 18.9% of women who took insulin alone.

The study also found that women who took both metformin and insulin had the lowest risk of miscarriage, with only 8.3% of women experiencing a spontaneous miscarriage.

How Does Anti-Diabetic Medication Reduce the Risk of Miscarriage?

Anti-diabetic medication, such as metformin and insulin, can help to control blood sugar levels in women with diabetes.

By keeping blood sugar levels in the normal range, anti-diabetic medication helps to prevent the damage caused by high blood sugar levels to the developing fetus. Furthermore, metformin has been shown to improve ovulation and fertility in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), a common cause of infertility in women with diabetes.

The Benefits of Using Anti-Diabetic Medication During Pregnancy

Using anti-diabetic medication during pregnancy not only reduces the risk of miscarriage but also has other benefits, such as:.

Reducing the risk of stillbirth
Reducing the risk of neonatal complications, such as respiratory distress syndrome and hypoglycemia
Improving pregnancy outcomes

The Risks of Using Anti-Diabetic Medication During Pregnancy

While using anti-diabetic medication during pregnancy has many benefits, it also has some risks. For example, insulin therapy may cause low blood sugar (hypoglycemia), which can be harmful to both the mother and the fetus.

Furthermore, some anti-diabetic medications, such as sulfonylureas, have been associated with an increased risk of congenital malformations.

Conclusion

For women with diabetes, the risk of miscarriage is higher than that of women without diabetes. However, the use of anti-diabetic medication, such as metformin and insulin, can help to reduce the risk of miscarriage and improve pregnancy outcomes.

If you have diabetes and are planning to get pregnant, talk to your doctor to determine the right medication for you, taking into account the potential risks and benefits.