BMI increase between pregnancies doubles diabetes’ risk
- Gaining between two and four BMI units increases diabetes’ risk by 2.6 times
- An extra recording of four or more raises gestational diabetes’ risk by five times
- Risks are strongest in women with a BMI of less than 25kg/m2 in pregnancy one
- Diabetes can be prevented in overweight women by reducing BMI by two units
Alexandra Thompson Health Reporter For Mailonline
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Just one unit increase in BMI between pregnancies doubles a woman’s diabetes risk, new research reveals.
Gaining between two and four units increases a woman’s risk of developing gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) by 2.6 times, a study found.
The increased risk is strongest in women who had a BMI of less than 25kg/m2 in their first pregnancy, the study found.
Evidence of a preventive effect occurs in overweight women who reduce their weight by two or more BMI units between pregnancies.
GDM is high blood sugar that develops during pregnancy and usually disappears after giving birth.
Just one unit increase in BMI between pregnancies doubles a woman’s diabetes risk (stock)
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TAKING FISH OIL IN PREGNANCY MAY REDUCE A CHILD’S DIABETES RISK BY IMPROVING THEIR RESPONSE TO INSULIN
Taking fish oil in pregnancy may reduce a child’s risk of diabetes, research suggested last month.
Giving overweight pregnant rats fresh fish oil improves their offspring’s response to insulin, a study found.
Previous research has demonstrated insulin sensitivity is protective against diabetes.
Lead author Dr Ben Albert from the University of Auckland, said: ‘This is exciting because it raises the question: if overweight women take fresh fish oil in pregnancy, will it lower the risk of their children later developing diabetes?’
Yet, researchers advise women eat more oily fish rather than taking fish oil as some supplements are of dubious quality.
Gaining four BMI units increases risk by five times
The researchers from the University of Bergen in Norway used data from the Medical Birth Registry of Norway on 24,198 mothers who had a first and second pregnancy between 2006 and 2014.
The figures included the women’s BMI at the start of each pregnancy, as well as any GDM diagnosis.
Results reveal that women who gain between one and two BMI units between pregnancies have a doubled GDM risk, while those gaining between two and four units have a 2.6 times increased risk.
Those gaining four or more BMI units have a five-fold increased risk.
The increased risks are strongest in women who had a BMI of less than 25kg/m2 in their first pregnancy.
The researchers said evidence of a preventive effect on GDM was seen in overweight women who reduced their weight by two or more BMI units between pregnancies.
The findings were published in the journal PLOS Medicine.
Inter-pregnancy weight should be diabetes risk factor
Lead author Linn Sorbye said: ‘Antenatal guidelines for monitoring GDM in pregnancy should add inter-pregnancy weight change as an independent risk factor for GDM with a routine stress test of glucose tolerance during pregnancy in women with weight gain more than one BMI unit.’
GDM is high blood sugar that develops during pregnancy and usually disappears after giving birth.
It can occur at any stage of pregnancy, but is more common in the second half.
GDM occurs if the mother-to-be’s body cannot produce enough insulin – a hormone that helps control blood sugar levels – to meet the extra needs in pregnancy.
Both pre-pregnant BMI and gestational weight gain are known risk factors for GDM, which can cause health problems for both mothers and babies.
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