A woman living with type 1 diabetes since adolescence has given birth to a healthy baby at Corniche Hospital in Abu Dhabi, following months of intensive coordinated care that her medical team described as a model for managing high-risk pregnancies.
The patient, who was first diagnosed at 16, had developed retinal and renal complications over the years due to difficulties in blood sugar control — conditions that place pregnant women at significantly elevated risk for pre-eclampsia and fetal loss.
Her care at the SEHA facility, a subsidiary of PureHealth, was structured around a multidisciplinary team that included obstetric medicine specialists, dietitians, diabetes educators, and fetal medicine practitioners. A personalised insulin optimisation plan was central to her management, alongside structured nutritional guidance and regular growth assessments of the fetus.
Glycaemic management shifted in focus as the pregnancy progressed. Early on, the team tracked hypoglycaemic episodes tied to nausea and vomiting. Later in the pregnancy, the clinical priority became preventing elevated blood sugar to protect placental function and keep fetal growth within safe limits.
By the time she conceived, the patient had achieved an HbA1c of 5.8% — a measure of average blood sugar over several months — and sustained that control throughout the pregnancy.
Delivery was scheduled at 36 weeks rather than full term, given her pre-existing complications. The baby was born weighing 3.36 kg and has been placed under neonatal care. Both mother and child are reported to be in stable condition.
Dr. Nageena Mahmood, a consultant in obstetric medicine, said: “With rigorous monitoring and tailored interventions, women with high-risk pregnancies can achieve safe outcomes. Our coordinated approach ensures that potential complications are anticipated and proactively managed.”
Dr. Tadala Chitema Saukila, an obstetrics consultant at Corniche Hospital, said the case illustrated what structured teamwork and active patient participation could achieve. “When multidisciplinary teams collaborate closely and patients are fully engaged in their care, outcomes can be significantly improved even in high-risk situations,” she said.
Dr. Fathima Farook, a specialist in obstetric medicine, said: “Our experience in supporting women with type 1 diabetes during pregnancy demonstrates that with disciplined glycaemic control, successful maternal and neonatal outcomes are entirely achievable.”
Corniche Hospital is part of SEHA, which operates under PureHealth, the largest healthcare group in the Middle East.
