Gestational Diabetes Mellitus: A Review of the Literature

Abstract

Diabetes affects roughly 1 in 10 people worldwide1 Incidence of type 2 diabetes (T2DM) is on the rise, particularly due to the increasing prevalence of obesity2 Healthcare costs in the U.S. associated with diabetes are estimated at $218 billion1, and obesity at $190 billion3 Obesity is a significant risk factor of Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (GDM), glucose intolerance with onset or first recognition during pregnancy1 GDM prevalence in U.S. is estimated at 10%2 Both obesity and GDM increase the risk of several adverse pregnancy and infant outcomes1 Women with a history of GDM have a significantly higher risk of developing T2DM later in life, and their children are also at increased risk of developing obesity and/or T2DM4 Potential for a vicious cycle of obese/diabetic mothers and children