Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), defined as glucose intolerance with onset or first recognition in pregnancy, is a common pregnancy complication that affects ’1–14% of all pregnancies and is a growing health concern (1). The incidence of GDM is increasing with the increasing burden of obesity among women of reproductive age (2). GDM has been related to substantial shortterm and long-term adverse health outcomes for both mothers and offspring. Women with GDM have an increased risk of perinatal morbidity and a considerably increased risk of impaired glucose tolerance and type 2 diabetes in the years after pregnancy (1, 3– 6). Children of women with GDM are more likely to be obese and
have impaired glucose tolerance and diabetes in childhood and early adulthood (1, 7, 8). Collectively, these data highlight the
importance of identifying risk factors, in particular modifiable
factors, for this common pregnancy complication and of preventing
GDM among high-risk populations