Gestational Diabetes Mellitus

Abstract

Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) has historically been defined as glucose intolerance first identified during pregnancy. The definition fails to distinguish overt (pre-gestational) diabetes diagnosed during pregnancy from glucose intolerance induced by pregnancy. Recently, the recognition that overt diabetes may first be identified in pregnancy has led to the recommendation that diabetes diagnosed in the first trimester should be termed type 2 diabetes (T2DM) rather than GDM , a clinically relevant difference in terminology as the outcomes and management of T2DM in pregnancy are distinct from outcomes and management of GDM. This chapter discusses the epidemiology, pathophysiology, screening, diagnosis, treatment and impact of GDM, as well as the obstetric management of GDM and management of GDM after pregnancy.  This review contains 8 tables, and 56 references. Keywords: Gestational diabetes mellitus, diabetes mellitus, stillbirth, glucose control, type 2 diabetes mellitus, pregnancy