Gestational diabetes mellitus – diagnosis, clinical approach, and treatment
Gestational diabetes (gestational diabetes mellitus – GDM) emerges as a significant medical condition diagnosed during pregnancy. This condition is prevalent in an estimated 15% of pregnancies. Characteristically, GDM develops during the second and third trimesters, predominantly due to increased insulin resistance. The lack of effective management strategies for GDM can precipitate a range of adverse outcomes, critically affecting both maternal and neonatal health. In the short term, maternal complications can include the onset of premature labour, the development of preeclampsia, and the occurrence of polyhydramnios. Over the long term, there is a substantial risk of maternal progression to chronic diabetes and cardiovascular diseases in the postpartum period. Additionally, GDM is linked to several fetal and neonatal complications, such as congenital malformations, macrosomia, obstetric trauma, shoulder dystocia, and neonatal hypoglycemia, underscoring the need for diligent monitoring and intervention.
Key words:
diabetes in pregnancy; fetal health; gestational diabetes; hyperglycemia; insulin resistance
