Background
Gestational diabetes mellitus: the burden of disease
The prevalence of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is
rising worldwide , with recent Australian estimates
indicating that between 5.2% and 8.8% of pregnant
women develop GDM . Risk factors for GDM include
the mother’s own birthweight, maternal obesity,
advanced maternal age, ethnicity, family history of diabetes and a previous history of GDM, large babies or unexplained stillbirth