Gestational Diabetes — Whom Do We Treat?

Abstract

In 1964, O'Sullivan and Mahan1 proposed glucose-tolerance-test criteria to define gestational diabetes mellitus — that is, any degree of glucose intolerance that first occurs or is first identified during pregnancy. Women whose glucose levels exceeded these thresholds during an index pregnancy were recognized to be at increased risk for developing nongestational diabetes 8 years later. Subsequently, considerable data indicated that lowering glucose levels in women who were diagnosed with gestational diabetes mellitus was associated with reduced rates of perinatal complications and death. However, many considered these data to be insufficient evidence to support treatment for gestational diabetes2,3; most . . .