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Health Dictionary

Reliable, easy-to-read patient information on common medical conditions — written in plain language, free of jargon, and grounded in current evidence. Browse the most frequent diagnoses, understand what they mean for everyday life, and learn which steps and questions help you have a focused conversation with your doctor.

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Gestational diabetes natural history, complications and prognosis

Introduction

Overview

Overview

Most women with GDM will return to their pre-pregnancy glycemic status after delivery, but there is an increased chance of developing overt diabetes or prediabetes during the next 5 years. Recurrent GDM is another subject that physicians should be aware of.

Natural History

Natural History

  • If GDM is left untreated, serious fetal complications can develop during pregnancy, and progression to overt diabetes can also occur in the long term.
Prognosis

Prognosis

  • Most of women with GDM return to their pre pregnancy glycemic status after delivery.
  • Women diagnosed with gestational diabetes have an increased risk of developing overt diabetes mellitus in the future. Women requiring insulin to manage gestational diabetes have a 50% risk of developing diabetes within the next five years.[1]
  • One-third to two-thirds of women will re-experience GDM in subsequent pregnancies.[2][3]
  • Risk factors for the recurrence of GDM include older age, multiparity, higher maternal weight in the index pregnancy, and weight gain between pregnancies.[4][3]
References

References

  1. ↑ “Gestational Diabetes”. Diabetes Mellitus & Pregnancy – Gestational Diabetes. Armenian Medical Network. 2006. Retrieved 2007-02-28. Text ” Carla Janzen, MD, Jeffrey S. Greenspoon, MD ” ignored (help)
  2. ↑ Getahun D, Fassett MJ, Jacobsen SJ (2010). “Gestational diabetes: risk of recurrence in subsequent pregnancies”. Am. J. Obstet. Gynecol. 203 (5): 467.e1–6. doi:10.1016/j.ajog.2010.05.032. PMID 20630491.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 MacNeill S, Dodds L, Hamilton DC, Armson BA, VandenHof M (2001). “Rates and risk factors for recurrence of gestational diabetes”. Diabetes Care. 24 (4): 659–62. PMID 11315827.
  4. ↑ Moses RG (1996). “The recurrence rate of gestational diabetes in subsequent pregnancies”. Diabetes Care. 19 (12): 1348–50. PMID 8941462.

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1];Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Seyedmahdi Pahlavani, M.D. [2]