-Women who have had gestational diabetes (diabetes while pregnant) are at a higher risk of developing diabetes later in life. This is according to a recent article in the journal Lancet.
Researchers report that women with a history of gestational diabetes, have a 7.5-fold increase risk in developing diabetes later in life.

· Study authors performed a meta-analysis which included more than 650,000 women with gestational diabetes between January 1960 and January 2009.

The analysis showed that women with gestational diabetes had an increase risk of developing diabetes type 2 later in life.

The goal of this study was to clarify the risk of developing diabetes after having gestational diabetes while pregnant. Study authors report that “increased awareness of the magnitude and timing of the risk of type 2 diabetes after gestational diabetes among patients and clinicians (doctors) could provide an opportunity to test and use dietary, lifestyle, and pharmacological interventions that might prevent or delay the onset of type 2 diabetes in affected women.”

Although we have generally concluded that these women are at a higher risk of developing diabetes, this study attempts to clarify this risk. The article is an encouragement for doctors to closely monitor women with a history of gestational diabetes and to stratify women at risk along with offering early education and intervention.

Cristopher Geiler, MD
May 27th 2009

Refernce
Lancet. 2009;1738-1740, 1773-1779.