Sending a reminder note to all new mothers with gestational diabetes may just be the right way to get mothers back to the doctor’s office for diabetes screening after pregnancy.  Even though gestational diabetes typically ends after pregnancy, there is still a higher risk of developing another type of diabetes later.

Some hospitals have started a reminder system to send letters to new mothers and their doctors about 3 months after birth.  Since less family physicians are delivering babies, it greatly helps to have information regarding the mother’s gestational diabetes history sent to the family physician.

The goal of retesting is to identity the women who are at greatest risk and make early changes to their diet and lifestyle to prevent the future onset of diabetes.  Close monitoring of the children are important as well, as they will be at greater risk of obesity and adult-onset diabetes.

Related Articles

• Gestational Diabetes Diet
• Gestational Diabetes Sugar Levels
• Managing Gestational Diabetes
• What to Eat Before Gestational Diabetes Test