Hong Kong Gestational Diabetes Register (HKGDR)

Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is a common condition that affects approximately one out of every six pregnancies. It is defined by elevated levels of blood glucose during pregnancy, usually detected through a glucose challenge test conducted at approximately 24-28 weeks of gestation. Gestational diabetes, by nature of the elevated glucose levels during pregnancy, is known to be linked to an increased risk of some conditions in the mother. Furthermore, the elevated glucose, if not well controlled, can be linked to a higher birth weight in the baby, as well as other effects. Although it is known that women with gestational diabetes have higher risks of diabetes later in life, exactly why gestational diabetes increases the risk of diabetes is not entirely known. It is known that some of the genetic factors that are linked to gestational diabetes are also linked to diabetes risk. Furthermore, how elevated glucose during pregnancy may affect later generations is not entirely clear. This is a research study that aims to improve the postnatal follow-up of women with gestational diabetes. Currently, there are no standard recommendations on how women with gestational diabetes should be followed up after they have given birth. Furthermore, despite being at increased risk of other metabolic problems including high blood pressure, abnormal lipids, and obesity, these are not routinely being monitored after gestational diabetes. The study aims to enroll women with gestational diabetes into a multi-center registry, where they will be provided with information about the long-term risks of metabolic diseases and be reminded to undergo regular assessments to monitor their health status, including assessment of glucose status, monitoring of blood pressure, as well as other parameters. Regular assessments will be provided for the initial 3 years. A subgroup of participants will also be invited to participate in a separate study of a lifestyle intervention program to reduce their risk of developing diabetes. It is hoped that results from this study will help guide the development of care programs to better monitor the health of women after pregnancies complicated by gestational diabetes, which will help improve the overall health of the population. In addition, the study aims to identify clinical factors, genetic and other biological biomarkers, as well as algorithms to predict different clinical outcomes and categorize participants into different subtypes of gestational diabetes, in order to optimize future treatments according to the characteristics of each individual.