We should probably be doing more for postpartum mums after gestational diabetes

Embargoed until: Publicly released: 2026-08-13 01:00

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Gestational diabetes has been linked to significantly increased risks of cardiovascular, kidney, and metabolic disorders after giving birth, say US researchers. Using data from close to 1,154,000 women, the team say this risk was highest and appeared earliest for women who had dysglycemia - any abnormal or unstable pattern in blood sugar levels - whereas women who had high blood pressure, obesity and excess fat had lower linked risks, but these persisted after the pregnancy. The team believe their results show that we should be monitoring mums who've had gestational diabetes for more than just their blood-sugar levels.

News release

From: JAMA

Gestational Diabetes and Postpartum Cardiovascular, Kidney, and Metabolic Disorders

In this cohort study, gestational diabetes was associated with increased postpartum risk across multiple metabolic disorders. These findings suggest that postpartum care after gestational diabetes may need to extend beyond glucose monitoring to include broader cardiometabolic risk surveillance.

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Journal/
conference: JAMA Network Open

Research:Paper

Organisation/s: Stanford University Medical Center, USA

Funder: This study received no specific external funding.

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