Type 1 and type 2 of diabetes are both characterized by an insufficient insulin production or an insufficient responding of the body to the produced insulin, resulting in higher glucose levels in the blood. Gestational diabetes is another type of diabetes that affects women during pregnancy. Once gestational diabetes is diagnosed, a close monitoring of the glucose levels in the blood is necessary to prevent possible complications affecting both the mother and the baby.

Diabetes and Birth Defects

According to a study conducted in 2008 by the CDC’s National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities, women who are diagnosed either with type 1 or type 2 of diabetes before even being pregnant and women who developed gestational diabetes during pregnancy have a higher risk of giving birth to a baby with birth defects. The risk is about three or four times greater when it comes to single birth defects while in cases of multiple birth defects, the risk is about 8 times greater for all women diagnosed with type 1 or type 2 of diabetes before getting pregnant. When it comes to gestational diabetes, women had an increased risk of giving birth to a baby with birth defects if they were overweight or obese before conceiving, especially when the BMI was 25 or higher.

Who is at Risk for Gestational Diabetes?

Not every pregnant woman will develop gestational diabetes during pregnancy. Some women have a higher risk of developing gestational diabetes than others. Risk factors that significantly contribute to the development of gestational diabetes are:

• A family history of diabetes. Having a close family member (parents/siblings) diagnosed with diabetes will increase the risk of developing gestational diabetes during pregnancy significantly.
• A personal history of gestational diabetes. If during a previous pregnancy, a woman had problems with her glucose levels in the blood, there is a great possibility that she will develop gestational diabetes in future pregnancies as well.
• Delivering a baby weighing more than 10 pounds.
• Being overweight or obese, especially when the BMI is above 30.
• Originating from Asia, China, the Middle East or the Caribbean.

Special thanks to Illiariana B for writing this article.