Diabetes in Pregnancy: Worldwide Perspective

Diabetes in pregnancy (DIP) is a common complication of pregnancy and its global prevalence is increasing, due to increase in both obesity rates and childbearing age. This is of concern as DIP is associated with worse perinatal outcomes for both mother and baby. There are also long-term outcomes for the offspring including increased risk of obesity and diabetes in their adolescence and adulthood. This review highlights the methodological challenges in estimating the global prevalence of gestational diabetes and its trends and population groups that are at risk of DIP. In addition the review discusses the increasing burden of type 2 diabetes in pregnancy and its complications, the importance of pre-conception counselling in women with pre-existing diabetes, and the challenges in management of this condition.