Among the most common pregnancy complication around the world, gestational diabetes cases are on the rise and becoming more complex because of increasing obesity, said the authors of a new series published in The Lancet journal. New Delhi: Managing gestational diabetes in the earlier stages of pregnancy could help prevent complications and improve delivery outcomes, according to researchers. Among the most common pregnancy complication around the world, gestational diabetes cases are on the rise and becoming more complex because of increasing obesity, said the authors of a new series published in The Lancet journal.
The international team of researchers, including those from the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, said that the condition affects one in about seven pregnancies globally and is typically tested for and treated late into the second or third trimester. If left untreated, gestational diabetes can lead to high blood pressure, increased risk of caesarean sections, mental health conditions, and complications for the baby at delivery, they said. The authors added that the pregnancy-related condition could also increase the chances of the mother developing health complications later in life, such as type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
Evidence suggests that the reasons for developing gestational diabetes can exist prior to pregnancy and that metabolic changes, such as those in glucose and blood pressure, can be detected in early pregnancy (before 14 weeks),.