Carbohydrate disturbances among women after gestational diabetes mellitus

Gestational diabetes (GDM) is regarded as a predilecting factor for a subsequent development of diabetes or other disturbances in carbohydrate metabolism. The aim of the study was to evaluate the risk of occurrence of failures in carbohydrate metabolism in females who sufferred from GDM, as well as to determine the prognostic values of selected markers that were regarded as factors favouring the development of diabetes mellitus (DM). MATERIAL AND METHODS: Patients who in the past suffered from GDM were subjected to this study. Out of 153 patients who responded positively to the written invitation to participate in this study, 74 had already been treated for DM. In 5 of them, abnormal glucose tolerance was found, and 74 of this group had been subjected to a 75g OGTT. The control group consisted of 153 subjects, who had given birth at least twice and in whom the metabolic diagnostics performed during the first pregnancy excluded GDM. Results of our study have revealed that patients who in the past had sufferred from GDM constituted a group with high risk for developing disturbances in carbohydrate metabolism or symptoms of metabolic syndrome after pregnancy. The main factors pro the development of the disturbances in carbohydrante metabolism were: overweight, increased fasting glycemia at the time of GDM diagnosis and insulin requirement during pregnancy. CONCLUSION: High percentage of diagnosis of an impaired carbohydrate metabolism and DM, calls for a special attention toward a group of patients with previous GDM, for a properly directed treatment that would enable a considerable delay in the development of an overt diabetes, as well as would apply a rational therapy, that would result in an optimal control of existing diabetes.