The risks and consequences of postpartum diabetes are often underestimated

Women with postpartum diabetes have an increased diabetes type 2 risk
Some physicians and midwives underestimate the risk of postpartum diabetes in women. This form of diabetes can develop women as a consequence of gestational diabetes. Sick women are more likely to develop type 2 diabetes later in life. Previous research has focused mostly on other causes of Type 2 diabetes. For example, the disease is associated with being overweight and can arise when the body does not produce enough of the hormone insulin or the hormone is not used properly to turn the blood sugar into energy , Now, a recent study has found that women who have a specific form of diabetes during pregnancy are at an increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes later.

In many countries, medical guidelines emphasize the importance of regular screenings to detect type 2 diabetes in women who previously had gestational diabetes. Researchers at the Queen Mary University of London have now noted that there is a lack of consensus among family physicians, obstetricians and midwives on the responsibility for immediate postpartum screening, according to the news agency Reuters. About four out of five midwives and half of midwives are unsure about how to deal with the dangers of diabetes, or have underestimated the likelihood that women who develop this complication during pregnancy will have problems with the condition later in life.

Women have an increased type 2 diabetes risk after having experienced gestational diabetes. (Image: Kzenon / fotolia.com)

Many physicians underestimate the dangers of gestational diabetes
The majority of physicians know that gestational diabetes is a major risk factor for later diabetes. Nevertheless, worryingly many physicians would underestimate the danger, "Reuters quotes the lead author of the study," Dr. Girish Rayanagoudar of the "Queen Mary University of London". About half of all women with gestational diabetes would develop type 2 diabetes within five years. This risk also exists if initial screenings after pregnancy are normal, warns the researchers.

Survey of 106 physicians for postpartum screening
To understand how family physicians, obstetricians and midwives were aware of the risks and used postpartum screenings, researchers surveyed 106 British doctors in East London and West Midlands. Nearly all doctors surveyed said that they offered advice on diet and exercise as part of their postnatal care for women who had gestational diabetes. Most of the women were tested for diabetes three or six months after delivery. If these examinations were normal, further screenings were performed annually.

Lack of consensus among doctors and midwives leads to problems
The results of the study show, according to the researchers, that the introduction of a uniform screening strategy is required. It is important to raise awareness about the long-term consequences of gestational diabetes, British experts are quoted by the Reuters news agency. While the study is relatively small, the findings are supported by other research on diabetes-type 2 screening in women with gestational diabetes. The lack of consensus on the screening was particularly worrying for women at increased risk of developing Type 2 diabetes after being diagnosed with gestational diabetes. Sanjay Kalra, Advisor at the Bharti Hospital in Haryana, India, in a statement to the Reuters news agency. For example, women of South Asian descent and obese women are more likely to be affected by the development of type 2 diabetes after enduring gestational diabetes. In order to minimize the risk of diabetes after birth, it is important that the affected women pay attention to a healthy diet and sufficient exercise. In addition, breastfeeding could have the potential to prevent diabetes, said the doctor. Sanjay Kalra (as)