Glucose monitoring in pregnancy complicated by diabetes.

Diabetes in pregnancy is associated with adverse maternal and neonatal outcomes. Due to variations in insulin resistance throughout pregnancy there is a continuous need to implement Medical Nutrition Therapy (MNT), exercise and pharmacological treatments which have to be escalated. Self-monitoring of blood glucose (SMBG) is integral to the management of diabetes in pregnancy. Proper implementation of SMBG in pregnant women with diabetes requires patient education and understanding of its applications and limitations. Real-time results enable individuals to make informed daily self-care decisions regarding diet, exercise, and insulin. Retrospective analysis of SMBG data enables clinicians to develop individualized care plans, informing decisions related to insulin initiation and adjustment and the possible needs for interventions or hospitalization to improve inadequate self-monitoring.