Diabetes and labour

During your labour, the healthcare team will monitor your blood glucose levels every hour during labour and birth, to ensure that they are maintained between 4 and 7 mmol/litre.

If general anaesthesia is used, your blood glucose levels will be monitored every 30 minutes from the induction of general anaesthesia until after the baby is born and you are fully conscious.   If you use insulin, your labour team may consider administering insulin and dextrose (a type of sugar) intravenously from the onset of established labour, to better control your blood glucose levels.