ABSTRACT
Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is defined as impaired carbohydrate tolerance resulting in hyperglycaemia, which first develops or becomes diagnosed during pregnancy. The majority of studies investigating timing and mode of delivery include women with pre-existing and gestational diabetes. In order to detect women with previously undiagnosed pre-existing diabetes, it is recommended that blood glucose monitoring be conducted in the early postnatal period. A subset of women with GDM have islet cell auto-antibodies, including insulin antibodies and glutamic acid decarboxylase antibodies. These women may be more likely to be of normal weight and are at increased risk of subsequent type 1 diabetes. The treatment of GDM improves pregnancy outcome and these women are at risk of type 2 DM in later life. Women benefit from a multidisciplinary management approach with access to obstetricians, diabetologists, dieticians, specialist nurses and midwives.
