Introduction: Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is a metabolic complication of pregnancy first diagnosed during pregnancy. It can cause complications like preterm birth, cesarean delivery, macrosomia and postpartum type 2 diabetes mellitus. Lifestyle changes, obesity and older age of pregnant women are considered risk factors for developing GDM. Material and Methods: This was a retrospective study conducted at 3rd Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece, between January 2023 and December 2024. A linear regression model, adjusted for maternal characteristics, was used to analyze BMI and weight gain differences between women diagnosed with GDM and those without GDM. Specifically, the study examined these differences between 28 to 35 weeks of gestation after GDM diagnosis. Additionally, the study assessed the impact of BMI and weight gain up to 28 weeks of pregnancy on the risk of developing GDM, using a logistic regression model. Results: A total of 149 women were eligible for the study. Among them 32.2% were diagnosed with GDM. Women that developed GDM exhibited higher increase in BMI (median change: 1.98 1.56, 3.04 vs. 1.1 0.77, 1.45, p < 0.0001), and also showed higher weight gain (median weight gain: 5.5 4, 8 kg vs. 3 2, 4 kg, p < 0.0001) between 28 and 35 weeks of pregnancy. Women with GDM had significantly higher pre-pregnancy weight, weight at 28 and 35 weeks, and BMI before pregnancy, compared to non-GDM women (all p < 0.0001). A significantly higher proportion of women with GDM conceived via IVF (16.67% vs. 3.96%, p = 0.019). Women with higher BMI at 28 weeks of pregnancy had 51% lower odds of developing GDM (aOR = 0.49, 95% CI: 0.28–0.82, p = 0.009). Women who gained weight below IOM guidelines had 158% higher odds of developing GDM (aOR = 2.58, 95% CI: 1.13–6.04, p = 0.026), while those who gained weight within IOM guidelines had 63% lower odds. (aOR = 0.37, 95% CI: 0.15–0.86, p = 0.025). Additionally, from 28 to 35 weeks after GDM diagnosis, women with GDM gained an average of 3.34 kg more weight (p = 3.11 × 10⁻¹⁴) and had a 1.2 units higher BMI (p = 3.46 × 10⁻¹⁴) than non-GDM women. Conclusion: Pre-pregnancy healthy body weight and weight gain within the recommendation limits is the key to reduce the risk of GDM. Close monitoring and targeted interventions to monitor BMI and weight changes after GDM diagnosis, is crucial to improve pregnancy outcomes.
Louri et al. (Fri,) studied this question.
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