INTRODUCTION: The aim of this article was to evaluate the awareness and use of the smartphone application (app) "Pregnant with Diabetes" locally, nationally and internationally.

METHODS: In 2013, a patient initiated collaboration with the staff at Centre for Pregnant Women with Diabetes, Rigs-hospitalet, to develop the app "Pregnant with Diabetes". The app communicates clinically important antenatal health information to women with diabetes, based on recommendations from our centre. Women with pre-existing diabetes (Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes) completed an anonymous, structured questionnaire at their first antenatal visit in early pregnancy at our centre. National and international data on numbers of downloads were obtained from Google Play, from the App Store and from Google Analytics.

RESULTS: Among 139 pregnant women with diabetes (96 with Type 1 diabetes and 43 with Type 2 diabetes), 99% had a smartphone and 75% had downloaded the app, whereof 48% had obtained information from the app before their pregnancy. In July 2017, the app had been downloaded 4,465 times in Denmark and 27,361 times in a total of 183 countries. The topics most frequently visited were "diet and carbohydrates", "blood glucose" and "possible complications".

CONCLUSIONS: Easily accessible patient information made available via app technology reaches the patients and may contribute to improved pregnancy planning and outcome in women with pre-existing diabetes - locally, nationally and internationally.

FUNDING: The app was sponsored by Novo Nordisk, Bayer A/S, Diabetes Care, Abbott, MSD Denmark, A.D.I.P.S and Rigshospitalet.

TRIAL REGISTRATION: not relevant.