Interventions to Prevent Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus in Women with History of Gestational Diabetes Mellitus, in a Low Resource Setting-A Systematic Review

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is more likely to strike women who have previously had gestational
diabetes mellitus (GDM) in the near future. There are no proper review articles comparing all the
types of intervention (breastfeeding, diet, physical exercise, etc.) which are cost-effective and feasible.
The aim of this study was to review published interventions to prevent T2DM in women with history
of GDM in a low-resource setting. A detailed literature search was conducted and among the 1833
articles identified, 9 were selected for review following PRISMA guidelines. These studies were evalu-
ated with the Cochrane risk of bias tool, and any discrepancies were resolved. A thematic narrative
approach was used for the generation of results and analysis. This review identified the cost-effective
interventions like breastfeeding, drugs like Metformin, physical exercise, health educational interven-
tion by using Health Belief Model, lifestyle changes, Mediterranean diet, nutritional pattern and were
effective in prevention/delay in the incidence of T2DM. Barriers need to be overcome, and support
needs to be provided to implement necessary screening and low-cost feasible interventions to pre-
vent T2DM in this high-risk population at the correct window of opportunity.