Diabetes and Pregnancy

This article discusses diabetes and pregnancy as a major medical condition complicating gestation, including its definition, epidemiology, and classification into pregestational diabetes mellitus (type 1 and type 2) and gestational diabetes mellitus. The physiological changes in carbohydrate metabolism during pregnancy and the pathophysiology of diabetes are described. The article outlines maternal risk factors, screening and diagnostic criteria, and the impact of diabetes on maternal health, fetal growth, and placental function. Maternal and fetal complications such as preeclampsia, polyhydramnios, macrosomia, congenital anomalies, shoulder dystocia, and neonatal metabolic disturbances are reviewed. Special emphasis is placed on antenatal management, including glycemic monitoring, nutritional therapy, insulin use, and fetal surveillance. Intrapartum care, timing and mode of delivery, and postpartum management of both mother and newborn are discussed. The article highlights modern strategies aimed at optimizing glycemic control to improve maternal and perinatal outcomes. Keywords: Diabetes in Pregnancy, Gestational Diabetes Mellitus, Pregestational Diabetes, Insulin Therapy, Fetal Macrosomia, Congenital Anomalies, Antenatal Care, Intrapartum Management, Neonatal Complications, Perinatal Outcome.