Timing of delivery in women with gestational diabetes mellitus: still an open question

ABSTRACT

Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is a pregnancy-related glucose intolerance, and it represents one of the most common metabolic disorders during pregnancy. GDM is associated with serious short- and long-term maternal and foetal morbidity.
The prevalence of both pre-gestational and gestational diabetes mellitus is increasing among women due to older maternal age at childbearing and the growing prevalence of obesity and overweight worldwide.
This review summarizes the recommendations of the main scientific societies on mode and time of delivery in GDM women, highlighting the absence of unique clinical management.
Moreover, analysing the literature, only three randomized clinical trials (RCTs) on this topic are available, and also the largest of these appears underpowered and it does not provide statistically significant data.
In conclusion, the lack of evidence and meta-analyses, suggests the necessity of further studies to draw up guidelines about time and mode of delivery to help clinicians in their decision making.