The Emergence of Diabetes and Impaired Glucose Tolerance in Women Who Had Gestational Diabetes

Diabetes mellitus is a common medical disorder that leads to significant morbidity and mortality. In the Australian community it is estimated that 3.4% of the population over 24 years of age suffer from the disease (Glatthaar etal., 1985). A number of factors, particularly hormonal, act during pregnancy to increase blood sugar levels but pregnant women with normal pancreatic function can maintain these levels within the normal range. The small proportion of women who are unable to do this develop gestational diabetes. Following the removal of the fetus and placenta this glucose intolerance usually disappears, but in some patients it re-emerges at a later date (Kuhl etal., 1984).