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ΑBSTRACT INTRODUCTION: Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is defined as the hyperglycemia diagnosed for the first time in the second or third trimester of pregnancy. It occurs in one in seven pregnancies worldwide and is associated with an increased risk of undesirable perinatal outcomes. Midwives' knowledge and attitudes towards the GDM contribute decisively to prevention and more effective management. PURPOSE: The aim of this dissertation is to investigate the knowledge and perceptions of midwives with regard to the GDM. In particular, an attempt has been made to determine the level of midwifery knowledge on risk factors, control, diagnosis, monitoring and complications of the GDM for both the mother and the infant. An attempt was also made to capture the knowledge and perceptions of midwives, as healthcare professionals, on the management of diabetes mellitus and its impact on patients' lives. Finally, it was attempted to highlight, if any, the need for further education of midwives on such an important issue as the GDM. METHOD: This is an analytical research. The sample consisted of 124 midwives (one of them was male) who work in Midwifery Departments of Public Hospitals and Private Obstetrics Clinics in Central Macedonia. The questionnaire consisted of 84 questions, which in addition to demographic and personal characteristics investigated the knowledge regarding GDM, the general perception of midwives as health professionals, to the GDM disease, their satisfaction with their professional role, perception of their social role and their education and training. The analysis of the resulting data was done with the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). RESULTS: The level of knowledge of participants for the GDM was moderate. The need for screening of all pregnant women for the GDM was recognized by all participants, while the time of testing and the examination used indicate an average level of knowledge. The need to control women with postpartum GDM and the primary risk of developing type 2 diabetes mellitus was reported by the majority of participants, while in terms of control time there was no recognition of 58.06% of the first postpartum check. Macrosomia as a possible complication was only recognized by 53.23% and caesarean section was recognized as a major complication by the highest percentage of participants (78,2%). The need to control women with postpartum GDM and the primary risk of developing type 2 diabetes mellitus was reported by the majority of participants, while in terms of control time there was no recognition of 58.06% of the first postpartum check. An Indicator of Risk Factors Influencing Precautionary Measures of the GDM has been developed. The level of knowledge derived from this indicator is above average, with a total "score" of 3.9 in 6. Midwives with postgraduate studies record higher scores in the risk-of-disease risk indicator than those with only basic studies. The overwhelming majority of participants reported that there is a need for more knowledge at a figure corresponding to 86.3% for the GDM. The index representing the perception of midwives as health professionals, regarding DM disease and intervention capacity averaged 19.28, indicating that participants perceive a high level of control of the disease and its complications with public sector midwives to have a statistically higher perception vs private sector midwives. The health care provider's training index for diabetes patients had an average of 16.89, indicating that respondents considered it necessary, with those having postgraduate education to score statistically higher rates of agreement. The index of satisfaction from their professional role (M 11.46) and the indicator of their social role (M 27.88) showed that respondents were not satisfied with their professional role (mainly because of their performance in administration and research), had a high perception of their social role. CONCLUSIONS: According to the results, the level of knowledge of midwives is determined to be moderate as the majority of participants did not appear to be aware of the risk factors, the way and the time of control for the GDM, the way in which the diagnosis is made, interventions to be made during the monitoring and complications of the GDM for both the mother and the infant. The high perception of midwives about the dimensions of GDM and the possibility of intervention is encouraging. Finally, the need of midwives for additional training for the GDM and, more generally, for the DM was highlighted.