Abstract
Stress management is a very effective educational strategy for women with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). The long-term goal for women with GDM is prevention of diabetes in both mothers and their offspring. Thus, when we teach the women with GDM, we must emphasize continuous lifestyle modification and regular monitoring of blood glucose during the postpartum period. In obese women with GDM who maintain normoglycemia, the optimal gestational weight gain for a favorable pregnancy outcome is about 3 kg, much less than that given by the guidelines of the Institute of Medicine. Hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) can potentially identify women who are have a high risk for adverse outcomes associated with GDM, including macrosomia and postpartum glucose intolerance. Until delivery, it is important that HbA1c levels are maintained below 6.0%, but ideally should be less than or equal to 5.5%.
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