Diabetes in pregnancy is more common than many realise, and the consequences can last a lifetime. In the first episode of 2026 of The Round Up, host A/Prof Elissa Hatherly speaks with Dr Anna McLean, General Endocrinologist and Clinical Lead for Diabetes in Pregnancy at Cairns Hospital, about the rising prevalence and what it means for clinicians on the ground.

With 23% of births in Cairns affected by diabetes, Dr McLean unpacks the spectrum from gestational diabetes to pre-existing type 1 and type 2 diabetes. She outlines practical management strategies — from nutrition therapy and exercise as first-line treatment to appropriate use of metformin and insulin — and explains why early referral, preconception planning, and close monitoring are critical to preventing congenital anomalies, obstetric complications, and long-term metabolic risk fo ...