The field of diabetes and pregnancy has come of age. From the
conception of the terminology ‘gestational diabetes’ and
‘diabetes in pregnancy’ to the creation of an entire subspecialty,
this textbook documents the ‘gestation’ of the field.Now
we have even subdivided the field and have created subspecialists
in gestational diabetes, and pregestational or diabetes in pregnancy,
Type 1 and Type 2. In fact we have created our own
internal debating groups as to the correct terminology for
each type of diabetes and its impact on pregnancy and the
pregnancy’s impact on the type of diabetes. It is a great honor
to be on the team of editors who have sought out the most creative
and progressive of scientists, and learned from them the
latest techniques and opinions as to the optimal management
of all types of diabetes in pregnancy.
This textbook not only documents the past 80 years of
progress in the field of diabetes and pregnancy, but also presents
the most up-to-date tools, techniques and management
protocols to ensure the optimal outcome of pregnancies complicated
by diabetes. In addition, the areas that remain controversial
are discussed in detail to enable the reader to come to
an opinion while waiting for the evidence to validate many of
the expert opinions presented in this book. A scan of the table
of contents shows that every area in the field of diabetes and
pregnancy has been covered. After a retrospective and historical
perspective this textbook covers both gestational diabetes
and the Type 1 and Type 2 diabetic woman who becomes
pregnant. There are four chapters devoted to the history written
by giants in the field who have had the opportunity to sit
at the feet of the pioneers in our field: the great Drs Priscilla
White, Norbert Freinkel, John O’Sullivan and Jørgen
Pedersen. The authors of each of the subsequent chapters are
world renowned. Thus if there is not the highest level of
evidence-based literature to substantiate an opinion, the
expert presents the data upon which a decision can be made
about optimal care.