Aim. To review the prevalence of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) in Eastern and Southeastern Asia.Methods. We systematically searched for observational studies on GDM prevalence from January 2000 to December 2016. Inclusion criteria were original English papers, with full texts published in peer-reviewed journals. The quality of included studies was evaluated using the guidelines of the National Health and Medical Research Council, Australia. Fixed effects and random effects models were used to estimate the summary prevalence of GDM and the corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CI).Results.A total of 4415 papers were screened, and 48 studies with 63 GDM prevalence observations were included in the final review. The pooled prevalence of GDM was 10.1% (95% CI: 6.5%–15.7%), despite substantial variations across nations. The prevalence of GDM in lower- or upper-middle income countries was about 64% higher than in their high-income counterparts. Moreover, the one-step screening method was twice more likely to be used in diagnosing GDM when compared to the two-step screening procedure.Conclusions.The prevalence of GDM in Eastern and Southeastern Asia was high and varied among and within countries. There is a need for international uniformity in screening strategies and diagnostic criteria for GDM.

Background: Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and its complications are major concerns because of the negative effects of GDM during antenatal period and on the future health of mothers and infants. Breastfeeding is beneficial for GDM mothers and their babies to reduce future health risks. Little is known about the link between GDM and the duration of “any” breastfeeding. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between GDM and the duration for which Vietnamese women breastfeed their babies postpartum. Materials and Methods: A prospective cohort of 2,030 pregnant women between 24 and 28 weeks of gestation was recruited. GDM status was determined using a 75 g oral glucose tolerance test. Included mothers were then followed up from discharge after childbirth until 12 months postpartum to determine their breastfeeding duration. Kaplan–Meier estimates, log-rank tests, logistic and Cox regression models were used to examine the association between GDM and breastfeeding outcomes. Results: In our cohort, 94.4% of all women reported “any” breastfeeding at discharge and 72.9% of women were still breastfeeding at 12 months postpartum. The risk of early breastfeeding cessation was higher in GDM women than their non-GDM counterparts after adjustment for demographic factors (hazard ratios [HR] = 1.39, 95% confidence intervals [CI] = 1.13–1.71, p = 0.002), and all potential confounding factors (HR = 1.38, 95% CI = 1.12–1.70, p = 0.002). There were no significant differences in breastfeeding outcomes at discharge (early initiation, prelacteal feeding, and “any” breastfeeding rate) between GDM and non-GDM mothers. Conclusions: GDM was associated with shorter breastfeeding duration. Women with GDM require ongoing support after hospital discharge to maintain long-term breastfeeding.

Background: Several diagnostic criteria for gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) have been developed and used internationally. This study estimated the prevalence of GDM and pregnancy outcomes among Vietnamese women. Methods: A prospective cohort study of 2030 women was undertaken in Vietnam between 2015 and 2016. Baseline interview and a single-step 75-g oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) were conducted at 24–28 weeks of gestation. GDM was defined by five international diagnostic criteria: America Diabetes Association (ADA), European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD), International Association of the Diabetes and Pregnancy study groups (IADPSG), National Institute of Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE), and World Health Organization (WHO). Maternal and neonatal outcomes were assessed using medical records. Besides descriptive statistics and univariate analyses, logistic regressions were performed to ascertain the associations between GDM and maternal and neonatal outcomes. Results: The prevalence of GDM varied considerably by the diagnostic criteria: 6.4% (ADA), 7.9% (EASD), 22.8% (IADPSG/WHO), and 24.2% (NICE). Women with GDM according to EASD were more likely to have macrosomic infants (adjusted odds ratio (OR) 4.35, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.49–12.72), despite no apparent increase in risk under other criteria. Babies born to mothers with GDM appeared to be large-for-gestational age (LGA) by ADA criteria (adjusted OR 2.10, 95% CI: 1.10–4.02) or EASD criteria (adjusted OR 2.15, 95% CI: 1.16–3.98), when compared to their counterparts in the normal group. No significant differences in maternal and other neonatal outcomes were found between the normal and GDM groups. Conclusions: A global guideline is needed for the diagnosis, prevention and management of GDM.

After delivery, mothers are encouraged to increase physical activity (PA) gradually to regulate body weight; however, data on PA in relation to postpartum weight retention remains scarce, particularly among Asian women. In a cohort of 1617 Vietnamese mothers, we investigated the prospective association between habitual PA exposures at 3-month postpartum and weight retention at 6-month and 12-month postpartum. Detailed information on PA intensity and domains was collected from participants using a validated instrument specifically for Vietnamese women. Linear regression analyses and a general linear model for the repeated weight retention measures were used to ascertain the apparent relationships. On average, the participants reported 3.6 (SD 3.9) and 2.6 (SD 3.8) kg weight loss at 6- and 12-month postpartum, respectively. Total and light-intensity PA were inversely associated with the postpartum weight retention (p for trend <0.05). Our findings highlight the importance of resuming PA in the early postpartum period as an appropriate weight management strategy.