Dr. Ganesan V

Gestational Diabetes Mellitus [GDM] is defined as the carbohydrate intolerance during pregnancy. In GDM glucose intolerance can be notified due to fetal development and other contributing factors, this may response to severe condition of hyperglycemia in pregnancy. Various maternal and prenatal adverse outcomes may resulted by GDM. The prevalence of GDM have a steep increase by  year to year by the influence of contributing factors such as advancing age,  life style modifications,  changed diet pattern etc. The overall prevalence of GDM noted as 1-14% among population, also the epidemiological studies states that the occurrence of GDM varies on the basis of ethnic and racial composition. The pathophysiology of gestational diabetes is assumed by various factors but exact cause of is unknown. Gestational diabetes is influenced by hormones produced by placenta, progesterone, estrogen, human placental lactogen [HPL], human chronic somatotropin [HCS] etc. Women with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome [PCOS] and family history of Type 2 diabetes mellitus are at high risk of having GDM. GDM on pregnancy period causes some important complications such as high cesarean sections, preeclampsia, post partum type 2 diabetes mellitus, urinary tract infection in both neonate and the mother, cardiovascular disease,  hypertension and stroke in mother, also neonatal consequences such as congenital malformations, macrosomia, adiposity, hypoglycaemia, birth injuries and prenatal death. This overview describes all the complications of pregnant women and newborns due to GDM with the conclusion of treatment profile.