What’s happened 

A new study has found a 60 per cent rise in diagnoses of gestational diabetes in England between 2018 and 2022. 

The proportion of pregnancies diagnosed with gestational diabetes increased from around 8 per cent in 2018 to more than 12 per cent in 2022. 

The researchers say rising maternal age, increasing rates of obesity and improvements in data capture are likely contributors to the increase. 

The sharpest increases were seen among Asian women and women living in the most deprived areas. 

What is gestational diabetes? 

Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is a common complication of pregnancy. It occurs when the body cannot produce enough insulin to regulate blood sugar levels during pregnancy. 

GDM is associated with an increased risk of complications including preterm birth, emergency Caesarean section and babies being born larger or smaller than expected for their gestational age. 

It is also linked to longer-term health risks for mothers and their children. 

What did the study find? 

Researchers analysed NHS maternity data covering more than 2.3 million mothers and around 2.8 million births across 184 hospitals in England between 2018 and 2022. 

The highest rates of gestational diabetes were seen among Asian women, reaching around 23 per cent, and women living in the most deprived areas, where rates reached around 14 per cent. 

The study also found differences in pregnancy outcomes between ethnic and socioeconomic groups. 

The researchers found that changes to gestational diabetes screening introduced during the COVID-19 pandemic did not meaningfully affect the overall trend in diagnoses. 

Why this matters to members 

Gestational diabetes usually resolves after pregnancy, but having the condition is associated with an increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease later in life. 

The findings are relevant to podiatrists because many will care for patients living with diabetes and cardiovascular disease. 

A patient's history of gestational diabetes may therefore be relevant when considering their wider health and risk factors, even if the pregnancy occurred many years earlier. 

The study also highlights wider health inequalities, with higher rates of gestational diabetes seen among Asian women and women living in more deprived areas. 

Links and references 

The University of Edinburgh: Gestational diabetes diagnoses rise sharply in England 

BMJ Medicine: Incidence of gestational diabetes and inequalities in adverse pregnancy outcomes in England: contemporary, cross sectional observational study of 2.7 million births