Diabetes in pregnancy: are we providing the best care ... - HQIP

Erb’s palsy Injury to the nerve roots of the brachial plexus of an arm mainly related to birth trauma
and leading to various degrees of weakness of the affected arm which may resolve
during the fi rst year of life
EUROCAT European Surveillance of Congenital Anomalies
Fetal growth restriction Evidence of abnormally slow growth of the fetus within the uterus; either estimated
weight or abdominal circumference below the 10 th percentile, or slowing growth
velocity of the abdominal circumference as measured at a subsequent ultrasound scan.
Fetal surveillance The process of performing fetal well being tests (these may include ultrasound scans,
fetal and placental Dopplers, biophysical profi les and fetal heart monitoring)
Folic acid A water-soluble vitamin in the B-complex group which helps to prevent fetal neural
tube defect when commenced by the mother before conception
Gestation The time from conception to birth. The duration of gestation is measured from the
fi rst day of the last normal menstrual period
Gestational diabetes Carbohydrate intolerance of varying severity which is diagnosed in pregnancy and
resolves after pregnancy
Glucose electrode Blood glucose measurement using electrochemical biosensors
Glycaemic control Recommended levels of blood glucose
targets
Glycaemic control test A test that assesses how well blood glucose levels have been controlled over
a period of time
Glycosylated
haemoglobin
A test which measures the amount of glucose-bound haemoglobin and refl ects how
well the blood glucose level has been controlled over the previous 2 – 3 months
HbA1c Glycosylated haemoglobin
High dependency care Criteria for receipt of high-dependency care are:
• Receiving NCPAP for any part of the day but not fulfi lling any
of the criteria for intensive care
• Below 1000g current weight and not fulfi lling any of the criteria for intensive care
• Receiving parenteral nutrition
• Having convulsions
• Receiving oxygen therapy and below 1500g current weight
• Requiring treatment for neonatal abstinence syndrome
• Requiring specifi c procedures that do not fulfi l any criteria for intensive care:
• Care of intra-arterial catheter or chest drain
• Partial exchange transfusion
• Tracheostomy care until supervised by a parent
• Requiring frequent stimulation for severe apnoea.
(British Association of Perinatal Medicine, 2001)
Home blood glucose
monitoring (HBGM)
Self-monitoring by the patient of blood glucose levels on a regular basis outside
the hospital setting, using a blood glucose meter
Hyperplasia An abnormal increase in the number of normal cells in normal arrangement
in an organ or tissue, which increases its volume
Hypertension High blood pressure
Hypoglycaemia Low blood glucose level
Hypothermia Abnormally low body temperature
Hypothyroidism Defi ciency of thyroid gland activity which leads to insuffi cient production
of thyroid hormones
Induction of labour The process of attempting to start labour (see spontaneous labour).
A combination of pharmacological and physical methods may be used
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