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Review
. 2023 Oct 23;15(10):e47500.
doi: 10.7759/cureus.47500. eCollection 2023 Oct.

A Comprehensive Review of Gestational Diabetes Mellitus: Impacts on Maternal Health, Fetal Development, Childhood Outcomes, and Long-Term Treatment Strategies

Vaishnavi S Nakshine  1 , Sangita D Jogdand  2
Affiliations
Review

A Comprehensive Review of Gestational Diabetes Mellitus: Impacts on Maternal Health, Fetal Development, Childhood Outcomes, and Long-Term Treatment Strategies

Vaishnavi S Nakshine et al. Cureus. .

Abstract

This review article conducts a comprehensive analysis of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and its ramifications for both maternal health and the well-being of their offspring. GDM is a significant pregnancy complication in which women who have never had diabetes acquire chronic hyperglycemia during their gestational period. In most cases, hyperglycemia is caused by impaired glucose tolerance caused by pancreatic beta cell dysfunction in the background of chronic insulin resistance. Being overweight or obese, having an older mother age, and having a family history of any type of diabetes are all risk factors for developing GDM. GDM consequences include a higher risk of maternal cardiovascular disease (CVD) and type 2 diabetes, as well as macrosomia and delivery difficulties in the newborn. There is also a longer-term risk of obesity, type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular disease in the infant. Premature birth, hypoglycemia at birth, and shoulder dystocia are also a few of the fetal problems that can result from GDM. Unfortunately, there is no widely acknowledged treatment or preventative strategy for GDM at the moment, except lifestyle modification (diet and exercise) and, on occasion, insulin therapy, which is only of limited value due to the insulin resistance that is commonly present. Although new oral medications for diabetes management, such as glyburide and metformin, show potential, there are ongoing worries regarding their safety over an extended period for both the mother and the child. By identifying gaps in the research, it calls for further investigations and a multidisciplinary approach, ultimately aiming to enhance the management and care for women with GDM, which would impact these affected individuals indubitably.

Keywords: blood glucose monitoring; exercise; gestational diabetes mellitus; hyperglycemia; hypoglycemia; insulin therapy; macrosomia; obesity; pregnancy; type 2 diabetes mellitus (dm).

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1. PRISMA flowchart of search strategy
PRISMA: Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses
Figure 2
Figure 2. Metabolic factors influencing post-GDM: the role of beta cell function and obesity management
GDM: gestational diabetes mellitus Image credits: Vaishnavi Nakshine
Figure 3
Figure 3. GDM and its control
GDM: gestational diabetes mellitus Image credits: Vaishnavi Nakshine
Figure 4
Figure 4. GDM screening and management
GDM: gestational diabetes mellitus Image credits: Vaishnavi Nakshine
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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