A few information on GDM (Gestational Diabetes Mellitus)

While GDM or GD (Gestational Diabetes) can complicate 1 in every 40 pregnancy, everyone should have some knowledge on this. In a simple way, when a mother is diagnosed as having diabetes during her pregnancy period, it is known as GDM.


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GDM may be classified into two. 1. Overt DM and 2. True GDM. When a mother is already having diabetes before the current conception but hasn't found out earlier, it is called over DM. So that blood sugar is high in mothers body from the beginning of the pregnancy which carries a higher risk of some congenital abnormalities. On the other hands, in case of true GDM, diabetes process start after few months of pregnancy and usually carries the risk of later-pregnancy-complications, e.g. big baby (macrosomic baby), preterm pregnancy etc.

All pregnant mother is not having this GDM. Who are at risk of developing GDM?

• Those whose BMI(body mass index) is more than 30 kg/m2
• Previous history of a macrosomic baby weighing 4.5 kg or above.
• Previous history of gestational diabetes mellitus(GDM)
• First-degree relatives(father, mother, sisters or brothers) with diabetes
• Family origin with a high prevalence of diabetes (South Asian, black Caribbean and Middle
  Eastern)

So, if you are having any such risk factors, be sticky with your physician before the conception.