P RACTICE BULLET IN
CLINICAL MANAGEMENT GUIDELINES FOR OBSTETRICIAN GYNECOLOGISTS
Background
Definition and Prevalence
Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is a condition in
women who have carbohydrate intolerance with onset or
recognition during pregnancy. The prevalence of GDM
varies in direct proportion to the prevalence of type 2 diabetes in a given population or ethnic group. It has been
estimated that up to 67% of pregnancies are complicated by diabetes mellitus (DM) and that approximately
90% of these cases represent women with GDM (1). An
increased prevalence of GDM is found among Hispanic,
African American, Native American, Asian, and Pacific
Islander women. With the increase in obesity and sedentary lifestyle, the prevalence of DM among reproductiveaged women is increasing globally.
Committee on Practice BulletinsObstetrics. This Practice Bulletin was developed by the Committee on Practice BulletinsObstetrics with the
assistance of Mark B. Landon, MD, and Wanda K. Nicholson, MD. The information is designed to aid practitioners in making decisions about appropriate
obstetric and gynecologic care. These guidelines should not be construed as dictating an exclusive course of treatment or procedure. Variations in practice
may be warranted based on the needs of the individual patient, resources, and limitations unique to the institution or type of practice.
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oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) used for GDM diagnosis in this study was associated with a graded increase
in these outcomes.