GDM: postpartum management to reduce long-term risks

Diabetes prevalence has increased dramatically, with 1.3 million new cases diagnosed annually. Women with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) are at increased risk for developing overt diabetes later in life. In addition, their offspring, exposed to the diabetic environment in utero, are also at increased risk for developing obesity, glucose intolerance, and type 2 diabetes later in life. Diabetes begets diabetes. The GDM diagnosis provides the medical community with an opportunity to intervene with strategies to prevent and/or delay the onset of diabetes and its associated long-term complications. This article reviews the roles of medical nutrition therapy, physical activity, and pharmacotherapy in preventing type 2 diabetes in women with a GDM history.