The Recurrence Rate of Gestational Diabetes in Subsequent Pregnancies

OBJECTIVE To define the recurrence rate of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) in a subsequent pregnancy and to determine what factors could be predictive.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS The subjects of the index pregnancy were 480 personally cared for women with GDM. One hundred women had had a subsequent pregnancy and had been tested for GDM.

RESULTS The recurrence rate of GDM was 35% (95% CI, 25.5–44.5). An increase in weight between the two pregnancies and a higher maternal age and parity were risk associates for a recurrence. A recurrence of GDM was not associated with a higher glucose level, insulin use, or fetal birth weight in the index pregnancy.

CONCLUSIONS GDM occurs in only one-third of subsequent pregnancies. Those women who had a recurrence of their GDM were older, more parous, and also had an increase in weight between the pregnancies.