Author:
Gică Nicolae,Huluță Iulia
Abstract
Formally recognized by O’Sullivan and Mahan in 1964, gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is defined as any degree of hyperglycaemia recognized for the first time in the pregnancy, including type 2 diabetes mellitus diagnosed during pregnancy, as well as true GDM which develops in pregnancy. GDM is currently the most prevalent medical complication during gestation, affecting approximately 15% of pregnancies worldwide. Important risk factors for GDM include being obese, advanced maternal age and having a family history of diabetes mellitus. Expectant mothers with GDM face the risk of developing gestational hypertension, pre-eclampsia, and necessitating cesarean section for pregnancy termination. Moreover, GDM amplifies the likelihood of complications such as cardiovascular disease, obesity, and abnormal carbohydrate metabolism, consequently increasing the chances of type 2 diabetes (T2D) development in both the mother and the child. Pregnancy itself places stress on the body’s insulin production and utilization, and some women are unable to produce enough insulin to overcome the insulin resistance caused by pregnancy hormones. While gestational diabetes usually resolves after pregnancy, the experience of insulin resistance during pregnancy can unmask an underlying predisposition to insulin resistance, which is a key factor in the development of T2D.