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Gestational diabetes needs to be managed

H David McIntyre and Jeremy J N Oats
Med J Aust 2013; 198 (2): . || doi: 10.5694/mja12.11368
Published online: 4 February 2013

There is a continuous relationship between glycaemia and adverse pregnancy outcomes

Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is generally asymptomatic. It is diagnosed by detection of hyperglycaemia resulting from inadequate insulin secretion in response to the increased insulin resistance that occurs during pregnancy. A GDM diagnosis identifies women at risk of pregnancy complications and later progression to type 2 diabetes.


  • 1 Mater Health Services, Brisbane, QLD.
  • 2 University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD.
  • 3 School of Population Health, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC.


Correspondence: david.mcintyre@mater.org.au

Competing interests:

David McIntyre has received research funding from Novo Nordisk, the National Health and Medical Research Council and the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, and travel assistance and payment for presentations from Novo Nordisk, Sanofi-Aventis, Servier, Sonic Healthcare, AstraZeneca and the Australian Diabetes Educators Association.

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