GESTATIONAL DIABETES - LONG-TERM MATERNAL CONSEQUENCES

Gestational diabetes, a glucose tolerance disorder of variable severit y which occurs or is diagnosed for the first time during pregnancy, co nstitutes a public health problem because of its frequency (1 to 6% of all pregnancies) and its short-or long-term consequences for the fetu s and/or the mother. The classical maternal complications are gravidic hypertension, preeclampsia and cesarean section. The dominant shortte rm effects on the fetus are macrosomia and metabolic complications. Pr ogression to diabetes mellitus (essentially non-insulin-dependent) rep resents a serious long-term risk for the mother. Systematic screening of gestational diabetes can prevent complications through an optimal c are programme and target a very high risk population in order to delay or avoid the occurrence of diabetes and its complications.