What Most Women With Diabetes Never Get Told7 min read

The Birth Control Counseling Numbers

One of the clearest findings involved contraceptive counseling. Less than half of women with diabetes received birth control counseling in the studies reviewed. Among women without diabetes, the rate was around 62 percent. That gap matters for a specific medical reason: unplanned pregnancies in women with diabetes carry higher risks, including complications for both mother and baby. Diabetes affects the body’s response to pregnancy in significant ways, making preconception planning particularly important. When contraceptive counseling doesn’t happen, opportunities to have that conversation — and to help women make informed choices before a pregnancy occurs — are lost. Experts note this isn’t a minor oversight; it’s a consistent, measurable shortfall in care.

Cervical Cancer Screening Falls Behind Too

Women with diabetes were also 10 to 20 percent less likely to receive cervical cancer screening compared to women without the condition. Cervical cancer is highly treatable when caught early, and routine screening through Pap smears and HPV testing is a well-established part of standard women’s healthcare. A gap of 10 to 20 percent represents a significant number of women who are not receiving a test that could catch a serious disease at a stage when treatment is most effective. Lauren Wisk, PhD, senior author of the study and an associate professor of medicine at UCLA Health, emphasized that these missed screenings can have downstream consequences that aren’t immediately visible but become serious over time.