Detection, treatment and prevention programs for gestational diabetes mellitus: The St Carlos experience

Abstract

Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) increases the risk of adverse events in pregnancy and jeopardizes long-term health of the mother and offspring. There is currently no consensus as to what screening strategies improve the efficiency of GDM diagnosis. Which criteria should be used? Is the one-step or two-step procedure better? There is no agreement as to what the best dietary approach in the treatment of GDM is. In addition, different nutritional interventions have been studied in the prevention of GDM. The Mediterranean diet seems to be effective in preventing GDM and other maternofoetal outcomes. We review herein our experience using the one-step criteria for GDM screening; the treatment and prevention strategies used; and the overall impact of nutrition on maternofoetal health.

Keywords: Alimentación; Cribado; Diabetes gestacional; Diet; Estudio San Carlos; GDM; IADPSG; Prevención; Prevention; Screening; St. Carlos study; Tratamiento; Treatment.