Controversy surrounds the importance and potential benefits (or lack thereof) of identifying and treating women whose pregnancies are complicated by gestational diabetes mellitus. A meta-analysis of five randomized, controlled trials has now demonstrated that adverse outcomes are reduced by specific treatment for gestational diabetes mellitus when compared with routine obstetrical management.
This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution
Relevant articles
Open Access articles citing this article.
Access options
Subscribe to this journal
Receive 12 print issues and online access
$209.00 per year
only $17.42 per issue
Buy this article
- Purchase on Springer Link
- Instant access to full article PDF
Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout
References
Horvath, K. et al. Effects of treatment in women with gestational diabetes mellitus: systematic review and meta-analysis. BMJ 340, c1395 (2010).
US Department of Health & Human Services. USPSTF Guide To Clinical Preventive Services [online], (2008).
[No authors listed] ACOG Practice Bulletin. Clinical management guidelines for obstetrician-gynecologists. Number 30, September 2001. Gestational diabetes. Obstet. Gynecol. 98, 525–538 (2001).
Landon, M. B. et al. A multicenter, randomized trial of treatment for mild gestational diabetes. N. Engl. J. Med. 361, 1339–1348 (2009).
Crowther, C. A. et al. Effect of treatment of gestational diabetes mellitus on pregnancy outcomes. N. Engl. J. Med. 352, 2477–2486 (2005).
HAPO Study Cooperative Research Group. Hyperglycemia and adverse pregnancy outcomes. N. Engl. J. Med. 358, 1991–2002 (2008).
Metzger, B. E. et al. International Association of Diabetes and Pregnancy Study Groups recommendations on the diagnosis and classification of hyperglycemia in pregnancy. Diabetes Care 33, 676–682 (2010).
Albrecht, S. A. et al. Diabetes trends among delivery hospitalizations in the U.S., 1994–2004. Diabetes Care 33, 768–773 (2010).
Langer, O. et al. Glycemic control in gestational diabetes mellitus-how tight is tight enough: small for gestational age versus large for gestational age? Am. J. Obstet. Gynecol. 161, 646–653 (1989).
Bonomo, M. et al. Evaluating the therapeutic approach in pregnancies complicated by borderline glucose intolerance: a randomized clinical trial. Diabet. Med. 22, 1536–1541 (2005).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Ethics declarations
Competing interests
The author declares no competing financial interests.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Coustan, D. Finding and treating gestational diabetes mellitus—does it help?. Nat Rev Endocrinol 6, 540–542 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1038/nrendo.2010.148
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/nrendo.2010.148