How to Prevent Gestational Diabetes

Gestational Diabetes Amongst North American Pregnant Mothers: Responses

Crowther, Hiller, Moss et al. (2005) show that "treatment of gestational diabetes reduces serious perinatal morbidity" -- more so than simple routine care, so that was an interesting discovery based on the questions posed by Nelson and Risa. The fact that gestational diabetes does affect both the mother and the embryo/fetus is indeed troubling -- and it got me thinking about how the interventions impacted both. After reviewing the study by Crowther, Hiller Moss et al. (2005), however, I was interested in seeing what other studies showed about the relationship between gestational diabetes, fetal growth, and treatment.

The study by Catalano, Kirwan, Mouzon and King (2003) confirmed the assertion of Nelson and Risa that there is increased risk for the offspring, especially if there is evidence of pregestational diabetes. What was one consolation however was the finding within the same study that "women with normal pregravid glucose tolerance who develop gestational diabetes in late gestation have no increased risk of fetal congenital anomalies beyond the population risk for women with normal glucose metabolism" (p. 16832).

However, the study by Reece (2010) suggested that gestational diabetes "significantly increases the risk of a number of short- and long-term adverse consequences for the fetus and mother" (p. 199). So this put me back on my guard, though I was relieved to see that the study also supported the findings of Crowther, Hiller Moss et al. (2005) when it stated that "on the other hand, there is a growing body of evidence suggesting that the risk of many of these consequences can be significantly reduced or eliminated by aggressive treatment" (p. 199). That was especially worth noting, I felt. My only question now is what is meant by aggressive treatment and whether there are any alternative treatments, such as the strict amendment of diet, that can be utilized?

2.

The second post shows that gestational diabetes can return in the form of Type 2 diabetes and I can speak from first hand (or rather second-hand) experience on this matter because my sister had gestational diabetes and after birth it appears as though she is still having issues, so she may be diagnosed with Type 2 and this is years after giving birth to her son. So the issue of gestational diabetes causing problems for the woman even after the pregnancy is over is a real one that my sister has had to deal with.