Hyperglycemia in pregnancy poses serious risks to maternal and child health. In August 2025, WDF hosted a Partner2Partner webinar featuring experts from PAHO, Fundación Vida Nueva, and Universidad Nacional del Nordeste, showcasing how education and local partnerships are driving healthcare improvements across Latin America.
18 September 2025 Anna Thabuis
The burden of Hyperglycemia in Pregnancy (HIP) is rising globally, affecting 1 in 5 live births in 2024. Addressing HIP not only promotes the overall well-being of mothers and infants but also contributes to a robust foundation for families and communities, building a healthy future for all.
However, nearly 90% of HIP cases occur in LMICs, where access to antenatal care is often limited, exacerbating global health inequities. Specifically, in the South and Central America region, HIP affects 15.8% of women of reproductive age.
While HIP is defined as high blood sugar during pregnancy, Gestational Diabetes Melitus (GDM) is an insulin resistance developed during pregnancy. According to the 2025 Diabetes Atlas, it is estimated that most (75%–90%) cases of HIP are GDM.
On August 14th, 2025, WDF hosted the webinar titled ‘Hyperglycemia in Pregnancy in Latin America’, with speakers from the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO/WHO), Fundación Vida Nueva (Colombia), and Universidad Nacional del Nordeste (Argentina).
Held under the Partner2Partner Academy (P2P), a platform for learning, innovation, and knowledge-sharing among, the webinar highlighted practical approaches to screening, diagnosis, and treatment, exploring how to integrate these strategies into national health systems with an emphasis on advocacy and resource mobilisation.
HIP poses risks for both mothers and offspring, including complications such as preterm birth, pregnancy-induced hypertension, caesarean delivery, large-for-gestational-age infants, and perinatal death. Newborns may require specialised care due to low blood sugar or other issues. Women with undiagnosed or poorly managed HIP, and their children, are at increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes later in life.
Prevention, early detection, and effective management of HIP are therefore crucial public health strategies. As Line Bechmann, WDF Programme Manager, described: ‘The gestational phase and the following period allow for interventions to improve health habits, as pregnant women and new mothers often are more open to lifestyle changes. Early detection and treatment of GDM can improve maternal health, promote newborn well-being, and create a healthier life by addressing potential metabolic disorders that can lead to future complications for both mother and child.’
The PAHO has positioned itself at the forefront of clinical guideline development in Latin America, particularly in response to the growing burden of NCDs among women of reproductive age. Their work aligns with global health goals to reduce maternal mortality and premature deaths from NCDs. ‘Gestational diabetes is a permanent challenge,’ stated Dr Carmen Antini Irribarra, PAHO’s Regional Advisor for Diabetes Prevention and Control.
There are ongoing discussions regarding the most effective methods for screening and diagnosing GDM, including differences in diagnostic criteria, decisions between universal or selective screening, one-step versus two-step processes, and alternatives such as fasting plasma glucose.
Despite the availability of multiple diagnostic frameworks, there is no universal consensus, which complicates international comparisons and clinical consistency. In low-income areas, there are further obstacles such as limited access to equipment and tests, as well as lower rates and quality of antenatal care attendance, exacerbating existing health inequalities.
‘Choosing one approach or another or one criterion or another will have a significant impact not only on the health system and how the health system itself is structured but also on the women who will receive this diagnosis’, shared Dr Carmen Antini Irribarra, underscoring the need for harmonised, evidence-based guidelines.
Universal screening is not currently recommended by PAHO or WHO due to insufficient evidence, but it may be justified in high-risk populations; however, both PAHO and WHO are expected to update their guidelines and publish new findings on this issue.
Despite persistent challenges in HIP care across the region, local efforts focus on educating pregnant women and communities to improve health outcomes. Partners in Colombia and Argentina shared key insights during the webinar, underscoring the importance of addressing both HIP and GDM holistically.
In Colombia, what began in 2011 as a local project by Fundación Vida Nueva (FVN) in Barranquilla has since expanded to six departments, including cities such as Montería, Cali, and Cartagena.
The programme employs a phased approach, encompassing detection, management, education, follow-up, and post partum care; embedded within the country’s Integrated Maternal and Perinatal Care Route.
Although not the recommended standard, due to the gaps in risk factor data for pregnant women in Colombia, FVN has adopted a Universal Screening approach to detecting HIP and GDM in their programme.
‘This foundation will allow us to move towards more targeted, risk-based screenings as these programmes mature,’ reflected Dr Humberto Mendoza Charris.
The initiative targets both direct care and systemic reform. Healthcare staff across various roles receive training, and select centres serve as referral hubs for specialised maternal services. Large-scale campaigns aim to raise awareness of early hyperglycemia detection in pregnancy and other non-communicable diseases. Coordinated efforts seek to enhance maternal and infant health through the “Pregnant Women Control Programme,” now standard in Barranquilla’s health centres, which provides updated clinical protocols and promotes stakeholder collaboration.
‘This is a shared value strategy; it brings together all stakeholders and clarifies their roles, making them easier to fulfil,’ explained Dr Humberto Mendoza Charris. ‘Strengthening intersectoral partnerships is key to achieving these outcomes.’
Looking ahead, the collaboration between WDF and FVN is entering a 4th phase, with the national programme WDF23-1927, covering 10 departments, FVN will broaden their focus to integrate NCD prevention and care into maternal and child health services and promote healthy school environments.
The collaboration between Universidad Nacional del Nordeste and WDF has demonstrated that education is a transformative force in public health.
The projects targeted at pregnant women at risk of gestational diabetes introduced early diagnostic protocols and innovative educational strategies. Education was delivered through face-to-face workshops, gamified online courses, and community outreach, aiming to empower women with the knowledge and skills to manage their health. Training also extended to interdisciplinary health teams, including nurses, nutritionists, obstetricians, and educators, through structured programs like diplomaturas and certification courses, enhancing the capacity of local health systems to meet maternal health challenges.
The results were compelling. Women in the intervention groups improved their dietary habits, experienced less gestational weight gain, and reported better emotional well-being. Post-intervention data showed a significant drop in macrosomia rates and an increase in normal birth weights, highlighting the clinical effectiveness of education-led interventions.
Digital innovation played a pivotal role. Virtual campuses hosted interactive content, forums, and gamified modules, bridging the digital divide and sustaining engagement during the pandemic. These platforms remain active today, continuing to train teams and disseminate knowledge nationwide.
When embedded in care pathways and community structures, education is key to empowerment. As Dr Silvia G. de Lapertosa shared, ‘ I would say that we empowered women, but we also empowered health teams. For these teams, it has meant learning, motivation, growth, teaching, and the chance to gain experience through this work. We learned that diabetes education saves lives’.
Across Latin America, tackling HIP and GDM means adapting interventions to each community’s unique needs. While successful programmes honour local contexts, challenges such as fragmented services and limited resources still hinder progress.
Despite these obstacles, the P2P webinar demonstrated that shared value models, participatory design, and adaptability drive real change. As Line Bechmann highlighted, the exchange of practical experiences is essential. These webinars and inclusive strategies not only foster continuous learning among health teams but also empower communities, breaking down barriers and advancing maternal and child health across the region.