An Overview of Gestational Diabetes

Gestational diabetes mellitus is a disease of glucose intolerance and insulin resistance which complicates 5–7% of all pregnancies. Gestational diabetes can have deleterious effects on maternal and neonatal health. Proper care for the pregnant woman with gestational diabetes involves timely diagnosis, management, and assessment of capillary glucose levels to decrease adverse maternal and neonatal outcomes in these women. Treatment of gestational diabetes includes a calorie-restricted diet, exercise if not contraindicated, and pharmacologic therapy if needed with insulin or certain oral hypoglycemic agents. With tight control of maternal glucose levels, the deleterious effects of gestational diabetes can be mitigated. The diagnosis of gestational diabetes can have lasting effects on both the mother and offspring. Mothers have increased rates of gestational diabetes in subsequent pregnancies and increased rates of type 2 diabetes and metabolic syndrome. Newborns are at risk for childhood and adult obesity, diabetes, and metabolic syndrome. After delivery, practitioners should educate women regarding their diabetes risks and remain vigilant in monitoring women for the development of type 2 diabetes.