Gestational Diabetes and Perinatal Outcomes in A Large Multi-Ethnic Australian Population

I-Lynn LeeAustralia Speaker Gestational Diabetes and Perinatal Outcomes in A Large Multi-Ethnic Australian PopulationGestational diabetes (GDM) is highly prevalent in a multi-ethnic Australian population in West Melbourne with high representation from South Asian, South East/Central Asian, Middle Eastern, African and Pacific communities. These ethnicities carry a disproportionate higher risk of GDM with earlier diagnosis in pregnancy. Australia adoped the IADPSG screening method in 2015 for which GDM prevalence rose sharply there after accompanied by rising rates of maternal obesity and changes in migration patterns from high risk ethnicities. GDM education is delivered in a group setting and sometimes individualised for culturally and liguistically diverse women. Dietary advice is also delivered in a culturally specific and sensitive manner. Treatment initiation differed with South Asian women requiring pharmacotherapy earlier and insulin use was highest among Middle Eastern women. A smartphone and internet based interactive glucose management system for managing women with GDM is being trialled with an aim to improve efficiency of care delivery. Despite rising GDM prevalence and maternal obesity, the large for gestational age remains unchanged over time. Maternal BMI remains a dominant risk factor for LGA. Induction of labour rates also rose significantly over the last 10 years. It is important to develop multilingual education resources and delivering culturally adapted nutritional counselling is essential to optimising care for women with GDM living in Melbourne's rapidly growing cultural diverse metropolitan communities.