04/05/2026
I recently had the privilege of attending the Diabetes Africa conference, and one of the most impactful sessions for me focused on diabetes and pregnancy, particularly the importance of preconception care and culturally appropriate nutrition.
One key message I took away is that for women already living with diabetes (Type 1 or Type 2), preparation for pregnancy should begin around 3 months before conception. This includes optimising blood glucose control, reviewing medications that may not be safe in pregnancy, taking 5 mg folic acid, and improving nutrition and overall health before pregnancy. These early steps can significantly reduce complications for both mother and baby long before the first scan.
I also really enjoyed the African and Caribbean food session, which highlighted culturally familiar foods that support healthier pregnancies and better diabetes management, including foods naturally rich in folic acid and healthier dietary choices that can make a real difference.
This learning strongly resonates with what we are seeing in the Democratic Republic of Congo, where gestational diabetes awareness, preconception care, and access to diagnosis remain major gaps. Many women are not routinely screened, and there is still limited awareness around the risks, prevention and early management of diabetes in pregnancy.
Through Congo Development Initiative (CDI-EN) and our programme « Le diabète nous concerne tous », we are working to strengthen diabetes awareness, early detection, referral pathways and maternal health education in our communities, while advocating for better training and support for healthcare providers.
I left the conference better informed, inspired, and even more committed to improving diabetes prevention and maternal health in Congo.
Résumé en français :
Lors de la conférence Diabetes Africa, j’ai particulièrement retenu l’importance de la prise en charge préconceptionnelle, de l’acide folique 5 mg, du contrôle glycémique et de l’éducation nutritionnelle pour améliorer la santé de la mère et du bébé.
En RDC, le diabète gestationnel, le dépistage précoce et l’accès au diagnostic restent des défis majeurs. À travers CDI-EN et notre programme « Le diabète nous concerne tous », nous travaillons à renforcer la sensibilisation, le dépistage précoce et l’éducation en santé maternelle dans nos communautés.
