UNDERSTANDING A THEORETICAL ANALYSIS OF THE PATHOPHYSIOLOGY AND EFFECTS OF GESTATIONAL DIABETES MELLITUS ON MATERNAL AND FETAL HEALTH: NARRATIVE REVIEW

Typically occurring in the second or third trimester of pregnancy, gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is a common metabolic illness. It is brought on by a combination of placental hormone-induced insulin resistance and the absence of pancreatic 8-cell compensation. Due to factors including placental villous immaturity and hypertrophic decidual vasculopathy, which can hinder placental activity and fetal growth, the condition poses a risk to the health of both the mother and the fetus. The complex connections between genetic susceptibility, environmental factors, and hormonal changes during pregnancy define the pathophysiology of GDM. It has also been discovered that genetic variations, such as polymorphisms in the VEGF gene, may contribute to the development of GDM. Additionally, insulin resistance and 8-cell dysfunction in GDM may be caused by epigenetic changes. GDM has long-lasting impacts on both the mother and the unborn child that extend beyond the pregnancy period. Type 2 diabetes mellitus is more likely to strike women in their adult years if they have a history of GDM. GDM exposure during pregnancy increases a child’s risk of having a metabolic syndrome as well as metabolic diseases like obesity and insulin resistance. A key factor in reducing these hazards is early GDM screening and therapy. The identification of multiple potential biomarkers, such as SPINA-GBeta, that can be utilized to diagnose GDM early and create a customized treatment plan has been made possible by the understanding of the molecular processes involved in the disease’s pathophysiology.