Gestational diabetes

• A family history of type II diabetes - maternal or sibling but not paternal. 

- Positive family history is present in 25-30% of women

• About 66% recurrence risk

• 70% life-time risk of type II diabetes (10% general population)

• 5-10% life-time risk of type I diabetes 
- women have a slowly progressive form of type I diabetes which is unmasked by pregnancy

• Antenatal and intra-partum management of the gestational diabetic is similar to that of the woman with pre-existing diabetes (with the exception of long term diabetic complications). 

However, the use of dietary manipulation or insulin as first line treatment is controversial. 

However, the majority of women can be adequately treated without insulin

• Not associated with increased risk of fetal anomalies