Pregnancy as an opportunity to prevent type 2 diabetes mellitus: FIGO Best Practice Advice. (12th January 2023) - Adam, Sumaiya
Abstract: Gestational diabetes (GDM) impacts approximately 17 million pregnancies worldwide. Women with a history of GDM have an 8–10‐fold higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes and a 2‐fold higher risk of developing cardiovascular disease (CVD) compared with women without prior GDM. Although it is possible to prevent and/or delay progression of GDM to type 2 diabetes, this is not widely undertaken. Considering the increasing global rates of type 2 diabetes and CVD in women, it is essential to utilize pregnancy as an opportunity to identify women at risk and initiate preventive intervention. This article reviews existing clinical guidelines for postpartum identification and management of women with previous GDM and identifies key recommendations for the prevention and/or delayed progression to type 2 diabetes for global clinical practice. Synopsis: The prevalence of gestational diabetes is increasing. We outline key recommendations for the prevention and/or delayed progression to type 2 diabetes.