What having diabetes means for you?

If you have type 1 or type 2 diabetes, you may be at higher risk of having: 

• a large baby – which increases the risk of a difficult birth, having your labour induced or needing a caesarean birth;
• a miscarriage.

People with diabetes (whether they are pregnant or not) are at risk of developing problems with their eyes (diabetic retinopathy) and kidneys (diabetic nephropathy). 

Some people with type 1 diabetes can develop diabetic ketoacidosis, where harmful chemicals called ketones build up in the blood. 

Pregnancy can increase your risk of developing these problems or make existing ones worse.