Were your blood sugars high when you were pregnant? Did your mother have high blood glucose (BG) levels while she was carrying you?If so, it's a good idea to have your BG levels tested periodically as you age.
The National Institutes of Health reports:
"Up to 40% of women with gestational diabetes develop full-blown diabetes within 5-10 years after delivery. The risk may be increased in obese women."
The American Diabetes Association (ADA) states:
"Gestational diabetes affects about 4% of all pregnant women." Children born to these women have an increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes in adulthood.
And the incidence of gestational diabetes is on the rise. The New York Times (NYTs) published an article in February examining this trend. They reported an increased rate of up to 8% of all pregnant women and highlighted the following high-risk groups:
"Overweight women or those older than 25 are considered at higher risk, and there are steeper rates among African-American, Hispanic, Asian and Native American populations."
Research that appeared in the January issue of The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism corroborated the NYTs' story with their finding:
"Asian and South Asian ethnicity are both independently associated with increased insulin resistance in late pregnancy [when compared to Caucasians]."
The rise of gestational diabetes, a condition that forewarns of type 2 diabetes in both mother and child, concerns health professionals. From the NYTs:
"Those who study the diabetes epidemic are concerned that it's one more time bomb."
For NIH/MedlinePlus's fact sheet:
Gestational Diabetes
For ADA's fact sheet:
Gestational Diabetes
For the NYTs' article:
Diabetes Is Seen As a Rising Risk In Mothers-to-Be
For The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism's study:
Ethnicity Modifies the Effect of Obesity on Insulin Resistance in Pregnancy: A Comparison of Asian, South Asian, and Caucasian Women
Thanks to ADAM Inc. for another great illustration.
