[Preconception care and counseling for women with diabetes and those at risk for diabetes].

Diabetes is a chronic disease with increasing incidence in recent years in parallel with the obesity epidemic. Diabetes can cause damage to many target organs and pregnancy in women with pregestational diabetes is considered a high risk pregnancy and constitutes a special challenge. Pregestational diabetes increases the risk of pregnancy complications to the mother, fetus and newborn infant. The duration and type of diabetes, its severity, the occurrence of chronic complications and the level of glucose control are the major factors influencing pregnancy outcome. Diabetes substantially increases the risk of spontaneous abortion and congenital malformations. In order to minimize these risks, it is important that all women with pregestational diabetes will receive appropriate preconception counseling and treatment.