This Pregnancy-Related Condition Is on the Rise — & It Increases Health Risks for Both Moms & Babies

As if pregnancy wasn’t challenging enough, there’s a new risk to worry about. A new report found that this pregnancy-related health condition has been on the rise over the last decade, and it comes with serious risks for moms and babies.

A new Northwestern Medicine analysis of more than 12 million U.S. births from 2016 through 2024 found that gestational diabetes has increased every year in the U.S. All in all, the condition has increased from 58 to 79 cases per 1,000 births, which is a 36 percent increase overall. (And it didn’t discriminate between racial or ethnic groups.)

“Gestational diabetes has been persistently increasing for more than 10 years, which means whatever we have been trying to do to address diabetes in pregnancy has not been working,” senior author Dr. Nilay Shah, assistant professor of cardiology at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, said in a statement.

Gestational diabetes is a pregnancy-induced form of glucose intolerance that can cause risk to the pregnancy and increase the chance of future diabetes and heart disease for both the pregnant mother and the unborn child. According to the American College of Obstetricians & Gynecologists (ACOG), gestational diabetes happens when sugar stays in the blood instead of being used for energy. During pregnancy, higher levels of hormones can interfere with insulin, which can make blood sugar levels go up.

“The health of young adults has been persistently worsening — less healthful diets, less exercise, more obesity,” Dr. Shah added. “These trends likely underlie why the rates of diabetes during pregnancy have gone up.”

Lucille Hughes, registered nurse and director of diabetes education for South Nassau Communities Hospital and treasurer of the American Association for Diabetes Educators, previously told SheKnows that common signs of diabetes include frequent urination, increased thirst, weight loss, blurred vision, and fatigue. When it comes to gestational diabetes, however, many of these symptoms coincide with pregnancy, making it difficult to detect.

“Most women are not aware they have gestational diabetes,” Hughes told us. “Keep in mind that some of the symptoms of diabetes, such as increased thirst, increased urination and fatigue are all common in pregnancy, so they may not trigger an expecting mom to seek medical attention.”

Women are especially at risk for gestational diabetes if they have had the condition in a previous pregnancy, if they have previously given birth to a child weighing more than 9 pounds, or if their body mass index is over 30. She recommends all women get screened for gestational diabetes between 24 to 28 weeks pregnant (this is in line with what ACOG recommends as well).

Don’t let this new report scare you. Gestational diabetes can happen with any pregnancy, and with the proper precautions and monitoring by your health care practitioner, you can go on to have a safe and healthy pregnancy and delivery. Still, it’s a good reminder to be aware of the warning signs and risks so you can be sure you are properly checked.

These stunning maternity photos capture the beauty, excitement, and power of pregnancy.