Diabetes can pose a serious risk to babies

The Confidential Enquiry into Maternal and Child Health report also found they are nearly three times as likely to die in their first month of life.

In addition, major congenital malformations were twice as likely - 42 for every 1,000 births - among babies born to diabetic mothers.

The study is the world's largest into the effect of diabetes in pregnancy.

The CEMCH study found that of 2,356 babies born to women with diabetes in the 12 months to March 2003 there were 63 stillbirths and a further 22 who died before they were four weeks' old.

HOW TO REDUCE RISK Prepare in advance for pregnancy with healthcare professionals Measure and maintain good control over blood sugar levels Take 5mg of folic acid before pregnancy until the 12th week Use antenatal services as soon as possible 'I had no idea there was a risk'

Women with diabetes also had a high rate of obstetric intervention, including a higher Caesarean rate, and a higher pre-term delivery rate than normal.

Diabetes is the most common complication of pregnancy, affecting around one in every 250 pregnancies.

The researchers stress that type 2, or adult onset, diabetes poses just as much of a risk as type 1 diabetes.

Dr Mary Macintosh, medical director of CEMACH, said: "We are particularly concerned at what we have found about type 2 diabetes in pregnancy.

"The evidence is that type 2 diabetes is becoming more common and, contrary to what many people have believed, it is just as likely to lead to a baby's death or a malformation as if the mother has type 1 diabetes."

Half of the women with type 2 diabetes were from ethnic minorities and almost half lived in a deprived area.

Other studies have shown that type 2 diabetes is also strongly associated with obesity and physically inactive lifestyles.

Poor support

Women with type 2 diabetes in this study were particularly poorly prepared for pregnancy.

They were unlikely to have had pre-conception counselling, had low levels of testing of blood sugar prior to pregnancy and low take up of folic acid supplements.

TESTS GIVEN TO PREGNANT WOMEN WITH DIABETES A scan before 14 weeks Regular kidney and eye checks Blood pressure checks An anomaly scan at 16-24 weeks Regular measurement of the baby

Professor Allan Templeton, president of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists said: "Women with diabetes, whether type 1 or type 2, are likely to have a different experience of pregnancy compared to women in general.

"Obstetricians, along with all healthcare professionals have a key role to play in supporting these women before, during and after their pregnancy to help them achieve a competent level of control over their condition."

Douglas Smallwood, chief executive of the charity Diabetes UK, said: "Sadly it appears we are making little progress in tackling the problem.