Perspectives in Gestational Diabetes Mellitus: A Review of Screening, Diagnosis, and Treatment

Perspectives in Gestational Diabetes Mellitus: A Review of Screening, Diagnosis, and Treatment
Jennifer M. Perkins, Julia P. Dunn, Shubhada M. Jagasia

Clinical Diabetes 25:57-62, 2007

Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) affects 7% of all pregnancies and is defined as carbohydrate intolerance during gestation. This review addresses screening recommendations, diagnosis, and treatment of GDM. It is crucial to detect women with GDM because the condition can be associated with several maternal and fetal complications, such as macrosomia, birth trauma, cesarean section, and hypocalcemia, hypoglycemia, and hyperbilirubinemia in newborns. Several treatment options are discussed, as well as the need for long-term risk modification and postpartum follow-up.