Final answer:
Gestational diabetes mellitus is also known as gestational diabetes, a condition of elevated blood glucose during pregnancy due to insulin resistance and impaired insulin production, similar to type 2 diabetes.
Step-by-step explanation:
Another term used for gestational diabetes mellitus is simply gestational diabetes. This condition occurs during pregnancy when the body cannot effectively use insulin, resulting in elevated blood glucose levels. Like other forms of diabetes, gestational diabetes involves dysfunction in insulin production and secretion, as well as varying responsiveness of the target cells to insulin.
Gestational diabetes is a form of type 2 diabetes, which is a multifactorial disorder combining insulin resistance and impaired insulin production. This interruption in normal glucose metabolism can lead to hyperglycemia. Without proper management, this can have implications for both the mother and the developing fetus.
Management often includes monitoring blood glucose levels, dietary changes, exercise, and in some cases, medication. Gestational diabetes usually resolves after childbirth; however, it does increase the mother's risk of developing type 2 diabetes later in life. Therefore, regular screening for diabetes mellitus after pregnancy is recommended.