WHO to Update Recommendations on Hyperglycaemia in Pregnancy Diagnosis
- Hyperglycaemia affects one in six live births, amounting to 21 million per year worldwide, prompting the World Health Organization to update its clinical guidance.
- Hyperglycaemia during pregnancy encompasses diabetes that existed before pregnancy, diabetes first diagnosed during pregnancy, and gestational diabetes mellitus.
- The upcoming guidelines build upon previous normative actions taken by the international health agency.
Hyperglycaemia affects one in six live births, amounting to 21 million per year worldwide, prompting the World Health Organization to update its clinical guidance. The international health body announced that revised recommendations addressing diagnostic criteria and classification for elevated blood sugar during pregnancy will be released in 2026.
Global Burden of Hyperglycaemia in Pregnancy
Hyperglycaemia during pregnancy encompasses diabetes that existed before pregnancy, diabetes first diagnosed during pregnancy, and gestational diabetes mellitus. Accurately distinguishing between these clinical categories remains challenging, particularly in settings with high prevalence of undiagnosed pre-existing diabetes. The condition creates substantial medical risks for both mothers and infants. Affected pregnancies face heightened dangers of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, stillbirth, macrosomia, neonatal hypoglycaemia, birth injury, and other long-term complications. Because most cases occur in low- and middle-income countries, updated diagnostic criteria must function effectively across diverse resource settings.
Timeline of World Health Organization Guidance Updates
The upcoming guidelines build upon previous normative actions taken by the international health agency. In November 2025, the World Health Organization published its first recommendations on care for women with diabetes during pregnancy. The forthcoming 2026 update specifically revises criteria established in 2013 regarding how clinicians screen, diagnose, and classify hyperglycaemia first detected during pregnancy. Emerging scientific evidence regarding screening, diagnosis, and classification has made a comprehensive review necessary to improve maternal and newborn health outcomes globally.
Expert Review Meeting and Transparency Measures
A Guideline Development Group will convene from October 20 to October 24, 2026, to evaluate the scientific evidence base governing screening and diagnosis practices. In alignment with compliance and ethics protocols, the organization published short biographical profiles of all group members online prior to the convening. Participants submitted formal declarations of interest to identify potential academic or financial conflicts. The World Health Organization implemented internal screening procedures to ensure the panel operates without significant conflicts of interest that could compromise the credibility of the resulting medical guidelines. Public stakeholders may review the roster of participating experts and submit feedback regarding any perceived conflicts of interest. Comments should be directed to the designated agency email address at srhmph@who.int.