Gestational diabetes linked with type II diabetes

Research carried out by the US National Institutes of Health and published in the journal Diabetologia has investigated the link between gestational diabetes(GD), weight gain and type II diabetes.  By following up women who had experienced GD the researchers found that they were increasingly more likely to get type II diabetes later in life with each kg of weight they gained after pregnancy.  The likelihood of developing type II diabetes was also linked with the BMI of women before pregnancy, the greater the BMI the greater the likelihood.

RCM professional policy advisor Janet Fyle said: “This research underlines the need for women to start their pregnancy in optimal health at a healthy weight and to maintain this during and after their pregnancy…It is important for women to realise that help is available for them from midwives and others, to manage their weight during pregnancy and to avoid gaining too much. “

Read our advice on staying healthy in pregnancy here.

Download the full research project here.

Read the RCM article.