Some doctors and midwives may underestimate the risk for postpartum diabetes among women who develop gestational diabetes, a small British study suggests. Type 2 diabetes, which is linked to obesity and aging, is a condition when the body can't properly use or make enough insulin. Women who develop gestational diabetes are at a greater risk of developing type 2 diabetes.

According to Dr. Girish Rayanagoudar of Queen Mary University in London, about half of women with gestational diabetes develop type 2 diabetes within five years. Rayanagoudar and colleagues surveyed 106 healthcare professionals to assess postpartum diabetes screening practices. The lack of consensus on responsibility for immediate postpartum screening highlights the need for improvements to minimize the risk of postpartum diabetes.