A study conducted at the University of North Carolina and published in the New England Journal of Medicine found that screening and treating pregnant women for mild gestational diabetes resulted in fewer caesarean sections and other serious birthing problems. This finding is important because there has been a lot of debate over whether screening and treating for gestational diabetes would provide worthwhile benefits.

The study looked at 958 pregnant women with mild gestational diabetes, meaning they had an abnormal result on an oral glucose-tolerance test but a normal fasting glucose level. Of these women, 485 participated in a treatment program (including dietary changes, self blood glucose monitoring and insulin if necessary) and 473 received no treatment. The babies in the treatment group were less likely to have a large birth size or weight, experience shoulder damage during birth, or require a caesarean delivery. In addition, the mothers in the treatment group gained less weight during pregnancy, experienced fewer preterm births and had fewer cases of preeclampsia (a syndrome that causes dangerously high blood pressure) than mothers in the untreated group.

According to Jean Hailes research director Prof Helena Teede, “These results reinforce the message that healthy lifestyle, activity and prevention of excess weight in pregnancy have significant benefits for both mother and baby. In women with mild gestational diabetes in pregnancy, the health impacts are very significant.”

For more information, see Gestational Diabetes or go to www.diabetesaustralia.com.au

Content Updated November 2, 2009