Two common pregnancy health problems increase risk for future diabetes

Pre-eclmpsia during pregnancy combined with gestational diabetes can double the chances of developing diabetes later in life, according to a new study from the University of Toronto.

Pre-eclampsia, a condition where pregnant women have high blood pressure, fluid retention and protein in the urine is a risk factor for diabetes on its own, but when combined with gestational diabetes, researchers saw a 13-fold risk increase over time.

The findings are critical, researchers say, as they point to health conditions that doctors should be more closely monitoring in pregnant women.

"These findings have important implications for maternal health, especially given the increase in obesity-related diseases," wrote the authors in PLOS ONE.

The study included more than a million women, 1,476 of whom had gestational diabetes and preeclampsia. Nearly 23,000 had only preeclampsia, 27,605 had only gestational hypertension and 30,852 had only gestational diabetes. Data on the women was drawn from a comprehensive Canadian database, which allowed researchers to track which ones developed diabetes at some point after pregnancy.

The authors found that for women with gestational hypertension alone, the risk for diabetes was 1.95 times higher and was 2.08 times higher for women with preeclampsia alone. But for women with one of the two conditions and gestational diabetes, risk was 12-16 times higher.

Researchers say the findings indicate that women with hypertensive pregnancy disorders with or without gestational diabetes can now be considered high risk for developing diabetes later in life.

"A history of preeclampsia or gestational hypertension during pregnancy should alert clinicians to the need for preventative counseling and more vigilant screening for diabetes," the authors said.

Source: Science Daily