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Gestational Diabetes During and After Pregnancy pp 361–372Cite as

Diabetes Prevention Interventions for Women with a History of GDM

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Abstract

Women with a history of gestational diabetes (GDM) are at increased risk of later developing type 2 diabetes. Lifestyle modification interventions promoting weight loss and pharmacotherapy interventions to improve insulin sensitivity have been shown to be effective in preventing or delaying the onset of type 2 diabetes in older women with impaired glucose tolerance and/or a previous pregnancy complicated by GDM. This chapter reviews interventions aimed at reducing the incidence of type 2 diabetes for women with a history of GDM. The chapter also presents the few available, small-scale lifestyle interventions for weight management during pregnancy and/or during the early postpartum period; these potential interventions could be applied to women soon after a diagnosis of GDM in order to reduce their lifetime risk of developing type 2 diabetes. We present evidence supporting a lifestyle modification intervention that would begin during pregnancy and continue through the postpartum period, as pharmacotherapy interventions may not be appropriate for pregnant women or women of reproductive age who may intend to become pregnant. However, young women with GDM may not be aware of their diabetes risk and may perceive difficulty in changing lifestyle behaviors. Thus, novel approaches are necessary to translate lifestyle modifications previously proven effective in older women with impaired glucose tolerance to younger women with a recent history of GDM, particularly those with normal glucose tolerance postpartum. Directions for future research include randomized clinical trials assessing the effectiveness of lifestyle modification interventions targeting women with current GDM or a recent pregnancy complicated by GDM. Understanding the barriers to increasing physical activity and adopting a healthy diet, and learning how preventative lifestyle modifications may best be integrated into the busy schedules of young women caring for young children, are crucial.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Research, Kaiser Permanente Northern California, Oakland, CA, USA

    Assiamira Ferrara

Authors
  1. Assiamira Ferrara
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  2. Samantha F. Ehrlich
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Correspondence to Assiamira Ferrara .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. University of Michigan Health System, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA

    Catherine Kim

  2. Kaiser Permanente, Division of Research Clinics Kaiser Permanente, Oakland, California, USA

    Assiamira Ferrara

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© 2010 Springer London

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Ferrara, A., Ehrlich, S.F. (2010). Diabetes Prevention Interventions for Women with a History of GDM. In: Kim, C., Ferrara, A. (eds) Gestational Diabetes During and After Pregnancy. Springer, London. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-84882-120-0_24

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-84882-120-0_24

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, London

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-84882-119-4

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-84882-120-0

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