Le diabete gestationnel: definition, depistage et traitement.

Defined as glucose intolerance with onset or first recognition during pregnancy, gestational diabetes mellitus represents in fact an heterogeneous clinical entity which may concern 1 to 4% of all pregnant women in our country. Its adverse effects on the mother and her child, the need for a universal screening and the mode of screening are still controversial. Screening may be made either by a first test with a 50 g oral glucose load (the so-called O'Sullivan test), confirmed if positive by a 100 g oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT), or at first glance by a 75 g OGTT performed between the 24th and 28th weeks of gestation. The treatment of gestational diabetes is based on diet. In case of diet failure to obtain good glucose control, insulin therapy should be proposed.