Potential risks associated with gestational diabetes mellitus

	Comment
Short-term
Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (preeclampsia, gestational hypertension)	Preeclampsia can be life-threatening These disorders often lead to medically-indicated preterm birth
Large for gestational age newborn or macrosomia	May result in maternal or neonatal birth trauma Macrosomia is an indication for planned cesarean birth
Polyhydramnios	Usually mild
Operative delivery (cesarean birth, forceps- or vacuum-assisted vaginal birth)
Fetal/neonatal cardiomyopathy	Usually asymptomatic, but 5 to 10% have respiratory distress or signs of poor cardiac output or heart failure Most often in the setting of suboptimal glucose control
Neonatal respiratory problems	Usually mild. Most often in the setting of suboptimal glucose control. Fetal/neonatal hyperinsulinemia appears to delay surfactant synthesis.
Neonatal metabolic problems (hypoglycemia, hyperbilirubinemia, hypocalcemia, hypomagnesemia, polycythemia and hyperviscosity syndrome)	Most often in the setting of suboptimal glucose control Hypoglycemia and hyperbilirubinemia are the most common metabolic problems
Longterm
Maternal
Diabetes mellitus (primarily type 2)	The lifetime maternal risk for diabetes is estimated to be 50 to 60%
Cardiovascular disease	Individuals with GDM are at higher risk of developing cardiovascular disease and developing it at a younger age than those with no history of GDM
Offspring
Diabetes mellitus Obesity Possibly adverse neurodevelopment

Graphic 140918 Version 1.0