Early screening and proper care can help lower risks of gestational diabetes, say doctors Updated: Updated: National Gestational Diabetes Mellitus Day will be observed today Share Article National Gestational Diabetes Mellitus Day will be observed today Gestational diabetes puts women at a greater risk for developing diabetes later in life. This was why early screening, counselling, appropriate diet and behaviour modification and postpartum follow-up was critical, doctors said. With the National Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (GDM) Day being observed on March 10, doctors, while acknowledging that awareness on GDM had made a marked improvement over the years, pinpointed the need for early screening.