Study: More diabetes, more C-sections

TORONTO, Sept. 20 (UPI) -- As rates of diabetes increase, Canadian researchers said they see a corresponding increase in Caesarean sections among diabetic women.

Researchers at St. Michael's Hospital's Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences and Women's College Hospital in Toronto found nearly half of women who had diabetes prior to pregnancy were having Caesarean sections.

They also found babies born to women with pre-pregnancy diabetes had twice as many fetal complications and twice the rate of stillbirth/in-hospital mortality as those born to women without diabetes.

The researchers noted the rates of diabetes in Ontario have doubled in the last 12 years. Nearly one in 10 Ontario adults has been diagnosed with diabetes, including more women than ever before.

"We are seeing more younger women living with diabetes. In fact, while older men still have higher rates than older women, women under 45 are getting diagnosed at the same rate as men in that age group," Dr. Lorraine Lipscombe said in a statement. "This trend is having increasing implications for younger women. With more women having babies later in life, we are seeing a greater number of women getting pregnant with diabetes."

The study findings are detailed a report designed for use by policymakers and healthcare providers to improve access, quality and outcomes of care for Ontario women.