This text is a transcription of the second Aberdeen Colloquium, the theme of which titles this book. There are nine general categories, all of which are further subdivided into three to five chapters, ranging from intermediary metabolism of pregnancy to fetal macrosomia to asymptomatic diabetes. The scope of subject matter encompassed is broad and impressive and, almost by necessity, discursive. For example, a chapter devoted to aminoacids and the fetal development of beta cells is immediately followed by the role of glucagon in neonatal hypocalcemia. Despite the title's intimation, newborn carbohydrate metabolism is barely addressed but, notwithstanding, the book abounds with discussions of fetal metabolism and nutrition. Some sections are almost entirely clinically oriented; for instance, those on the detection of chemical gestational diabetes and the management of maternal diabetes in pregnancy.
Each chapter is well written and sufficiently referenced, ending with the authors' concise summary or comment. This is