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Gestational diabetes natural history, complications and prognosis

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


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.

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