Gestational Diabetes Affects 1 in 10 Expectant Mothers

Gestational diabetes is a common health issue for many pregnant women. Like other types of diabetes, the cells that absorb glucose are affected by high blood sugar levels that can create significant health issues for the mother and her future child, if left untreated. However, a recent study, published in the journal Preventing Chronic Disease, shows that as many as 1 in 10 mothers-to-be will develop the health issue.

"Our results indicate that gestational diabetes prevalence is high in the U.S.," said lead researcher Carla DeSisto, an epidemiology research fellow at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), according to Health Day.

For their research, the study authors examined data taken from the Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System questionnaire and state birth certificate records. They compared the rates of two time periods between 2007 to 2008 and 2009 to 2010 to examine the prominence of the health issue. However, they did not find any difference in the rate of gestational diabetes during these times.

Yet they did find that the prevalence rate was higher at about  4.6 to 9.2 percent. Because of the potential complications from gestational diabetes, researchers stressed the importance in taking proper care and preventative measures during the early stages of the medical problem.

"Women who are diagnosed with gestational diabetes have more than a seven-fold increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes in the five to 10 years after delivery. Children born to mothers with gestational diabetes are also more likely to develop pre-diabetes," DeSisto added, according to Medical Xpress.

Though researchers are still not entirely certain as to what causes gestational diabetes, keeping a healthy diet throughout pregnancy that prevents obesity can help reduce the risk of the problem.