It is clear that there remains a global crisis in the development and consequences of chronic diseases such as obesity and type 2 diabetes. These conditions lead to complications that increase morbidity and mortality, such as heart disease, stroke, amputations, and kidney disease. We have learned a great deal about the pathogenesis of these disorders and also about both treatment and preventive...

The comment letter by McElduff (1) acknowledges that our study (2) is an excellent example of the research needed to determine optimal glycemic targets for mothers with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). The primary objective of our study was to describe the body composition at birth of infants born to mothers with GDM compared with infants born to mothers with normal glucose tolerance using ...

Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) has been defined as any degree of glucose intolerance with an onset or first recognition during pregnancy (1–3 ). Fetal complications of GDM include macrosomia (large baby, which leads to birth injuries), shoulder dystocia, and neonatal hypoglycemia, and adverse outcomes for the mother are an increased risk of cesarean delivery, preeclampsia, and hypertension...

M aturity-onset diabetes of the young (MODY) encompasses a collection of distinct forms of diabetes, which are inherited in an autosomaldominant mode from the maternal or paternal side of the family or occasionally occur as a de novo mutation. All the genes involved affect either b-cell sensing or insulin secretion (1). The clinical presentations of MODY are heterogeneous, reflecting the differ...

Gestational diabetes mellitus In a symposium on advances in the understanding of obesity and weight gain during pregnancy, Teresa A. Hillier (Portland, OR) discussed the implications that pregnancy weight gain in gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) has for the fetus. Much of the discussion following her lecture and those of the other speakers concerned the May 2009 guidelines of the Institute o...

Much to Learn! In the preinsulin era, pregnancy in a diabetic mother had a bleak outcome for both the mother and the baby. Availability of insulin and modern methods of treatment improved the survival of these babies, but they appear to be at increased risk of obesity and diabetes (1–3). Spread of the diabetes pandemic to the young means there is now a growing epidemic of gestational diabetes m...

Human modification of the environment has drastically changed ecosystems around globe. While forest-loss (deforestation) been well studied for its effects on ecosystems, afforestation also major impacts. The Udzungwa Plateau in Tanzania is naturally a mix forests and grasslands. However, non-native pine plantations have recently increased area displacing native grasslands montane plateau. In th...

There are 2 major phases of fat accrual: the first appearing in late fetal life, and second infancy.1Toro-Ramos T. Paley C. Pi-Sunyer F.X. Gallagher D. Body composition during development infancy through age 5 years.Eur J Clin Nutr. 2015; 69: 1279-1289Crossref PubMed Scopus (53) Google Scholar Both thought to be related risk future adiposity; however, their relative contributions have not been ...