What is gestational diabetes?
Gestational diabetes is a type of diabetes that appears for the first time during pregnancy, and is diagnosed between the 24th and the 28th week. It is characterized by elevated maternal blood glucose levels. Unlike type 1 or 2 diabetes, this condition is caused by the hormonal changes typical of pregnancy, added to risk factors such as maternal obesity, among others, which hinder the action of insulin, a key hormone to regulate glucose. Although it usually disappears after childbirth, it requires medical follow-up, as it can have consequences for the mother and the baby.
What long-term effects have been observed, both in the mother and in the child?
Although gestational diabetes usually disappears after childbirth, the mother’s risk of developing type 2 diabetes, metabolic syndrome, and cardiovascular diseases in the following years increases. It has also been observed that children born from these pregnancies have an increased risk of obesity, insulin resistance, and type 2 diabetes from adolescence. This is due to the effects of excess glucose on fetal development, affecting their metabolism even before birth. That’s why gestational diabetes is considered an “early predictor” of chronic diseases.
How is gestational diabetes related to other pathologies, such as type 2 diabetes?
Gestational diabetes increases the risk of developing type 2 diabetes in the mother and her children by up to seven times. This is due to alterations in how the body processes glucose and responds to insulin, aggravated by factors such as being overweight and having a sedentary lifestyle. It is essential to take advantage of this stage to promote healthy habits from pregnancy and thus ensure the future health of the whole family. In addition, monitoring and the metabolic control of children born of pregnancies with gestational diabetes are recommended as a preventive measure against type 2 diabetes.
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