Background and Aims Women with diabetes may need elective preterm delivery due to pregnancy or diabetes related complications. The aim of this audit was to describe the neonatal outcomes arising from elective preterm delivery in diabetic women.

Method The study was a retrospective audit in which suitable patients were identified by the obstetric team at Hull Royal Infirmary Women and Children’s Hospital and data was extracted from their case notes. 45 diabetic women with planned preterm delivery were identified within a set time frame, resulting in 48 babies.

Results Of the 48 babies born, 47 survived. 36 out of 48 were delivered via Caesarean section. Gestational ages ranged from 29+3 to 36+6 weeks, and 24 out of 48 (54%) had a birth weight greater than the 90^th centile for gestational age.

34 out of the 48 babies experienced some form of neonatal complication and were admitted to the Neonatal Unit. The median duration of stay in the Neonatal Unit was 7 days. 14 of the surviving neonates suffered from respiratory distress, although only 4 required surfactant therapy to regain respiratory function. However, the incidence of serious neonatal complications in those born after 34 weeks was shown to be low.

Conclusion Elective preterm delivery after 34 weeks had little effect on overall neonatal outcome. Therefore it could be proposed that elective preterm delivery after 34 weeks gestation is an acceptable option in diabetic women if there are maternal or obstetric complications.