Diabetes and pregnancy: A call for terminology standardization in clinical practice

Abstract

Currently, there is no unified consensus on the terminology used to describe diabetes in the context of pregnancy, leading to confusion among clinicians and challenges in research. This review article proposes a set of terms to classify diabetes during pregnancy based on timing and diagnostic criteria, whether before or during pregnancy. A review of previous documents addressing terminology and classification was conducted, identifying four main terms: (1) pregestational diabetes mellitus, referring to diabetes diagnosed before pregnancy; (2) early gestational diabetes mellitus, diagnosed before 24 weeks of gestation; (3) late gestational diabetes mellitus, diagnosed at or after 24 weeks of gestation; and (4) diabetes in pregnancy, diagnosed at any gestational age. This proposal does not include an analysis of hyperglycemia’s pathophysiological mechanisms or specific diagnostic criteria. The proposed classification could serve as a foundation for a global initiative to establish a consensus on terminology for diabetes in pregnancy. A universally accepted terminology would reduce clinical confusion, provide a framework for defining diagnostic criteria, facilitate research on maternal and fetal complications, and support studies exploring the postpartum progression of diabetes.