Gestational diabetes mellitus (GD) is a widespread disease, the level of which continues to overgrow. Gestational diabetes mellitus significantly increases the risk of developing severe chronic pathology in both mother and child in the future. This publication is devoted to the prevention of GD during pregnancy, screening and diagnosis. Improve the course of pregnancy, childbirth, life for mother and child in women with GD, possibly with the earliest possible detection of disorders and complete correction of carbohydrate metabolism. To prevent GD development during pregnancy, it is necessary to identify risk factors, eliminate some of them, and prevent new ones. The risk factors for the disease include: overweight and obesity, pathological weight gain in the I–II trimester of pregnancy, burdened heredity, hypodynamics, old age, smoking, stress, polycystic ovarian syndrome, hypertension, hypothyroidism shortly before and/or during pregnancy, use of glucocorticosteroids, ethnicity, genetic factors. To prevent the development of GD in all women from early pregnancy, recommend nutrition; weight gain control; regular moderate physical activity; therapeutic exercise (in the absence of the threat of miscarriage, placenta previa and some other complications); limiting stressful situations; enough night's sleep; rational regime mode; abandonment of bad habits. This study has established the importance of early diagnosis and screening of pregnant women for GD. Diabetes mellitus is associated with increasing frequency of unfavourable pregnancy outcomes, perinatal morbidity and mortality. No conflict of interest was declared by the authors. Key words: diabetes mellitus, gestational diabetes, manifest, glucose.

The article highlights the main issues related to the topical topic of gestational diabetes (GD). As the prevalence of GD is steadily increasing, the definition of this disease, its prevalence in pregnant women, the reasons for its rapid spread, as well as the impact on the health of the pregnant woman, fetus and newborn, and maternal and child pathology in the future are considered. Purpose - to draw attention to the problem of GD prevalence in order to reduce its level among pregnant women. Particular attention is paid to providing a clear definition of GD. This is necessary primarily for the timely diagnosis of GD, monitoring of indicators in such pregnant women and treatment in cases where it is needed. The social factors of the prevalence of this nosology are considered, as it is economically significant for each country and has a direct impact on fertility, working capacity and mortality rates. Given the risk factors for GD, it becomes clear that this disease is more common in highly developed countries. Particular attention is paid to the correlation between the prevalence of obesity and the risk of GD. Although recommendations for the management of obese pregnant women and women planning a pregnancy vary, counselling on pregnancy risks, a healthy diet, exercise and dietary supervision are recommended to manage weight loss and gain during pregnancy. The clinician managing a pregnancy with GD should be aware of the factors that increase the risk of this nosology, the consequences of the disease for the mother during pregnancy, after delivery and the course of labour. The impact on the fetus during pregnancy is extremely important. There are also long-term consequences for a child whose mother had GD. No conflict of interests was declared by the authors.