Diabetes in pregnancy

ABSTRACT

Nowadays in Korea, the number of pregnant women with diabetes mellitus is steadily growing due to increases in advanced maternal age and obesity in combination with changes in lifestyle and diet patterns. Pregnancy complicated with diabetes mellitus, whether it is gestational or pregestational, is associated with an increased number of maternal morbidities and adverse obstetric outcomes. Therefore, it is very important to screen, diagnose, manage, and prevent diabetes mellitus during, and even before, pregnancy. In order to improve maternal and perinatal outcomes of pregnancies complicated by diabetes mellitus, research is needed on the standardization of screening and the diagnostic criteria for gestational diabetes, appropriate surveillance techniques for diabetic mothers and fetuses, and the optimal timing of delivery. To facilitate compliance of women with diabetes, randomized studies on the long-term safety and effects of oral hypoglycemics are also needed.