Diagnosis of GDM: a suggested consensus

Abstract

Despite recent attempts at building consensus, an internationally consistent definition of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) remains elusive. Within and between countries, there is disagreement between obstetric, medical, and endocrine groups as to the diagnosis and management of GDM. The current article aims to discuss the background to the controversy of GDM diagnosis and to address issues related to the detection and treatment of GDM in low-, middle-, and high-resource settings. The criteria recommended by the International Association of the Diabetes and Pregnancy Study Groups (IADPSG), the American Diabetes Association (ADA), and the World Health Organization (WHO) are endorsed. We also wish to put into perspective the importance of GDM, both during and after pregnancy, in terms of its relationship to overall women's health.

Keywords: definition; diabetes; diagnosis; gestational; pregnancy.