Metabolic Disorders in Women with Previous Gestational Diabetes Mellitus, Tehran Lipid and Glucose Study

Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is a common complication of pregnancy that is associated with fetal and maternal adverse outcomes. These women are at higher risk for development of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and metabolic and cardiovascular disease. Various results have been presented on the long term consequences of GDM. We aimed to compare the incidence of these metabolic disorders between women with previous GDM and those without any history of GDM. Three groups of non-diabetic women, aged 15-45 y who participated in first phase of Tehran Lipid and Glucose Study (TLGS) were selected; 1) women with previous GDM, 2) women with previous still birth or macrosomia and without any history of GDM, and 3) normal age-BMI matched controls. They were followed for an average of 9 years, for developing of type 2 diabetes mellitus, hypertension and dislipidemia. Cumulative incidence of T2DM in the GDM group was 3-fold higher than the control. Incidence rates of T2DM were not significantly different between women in MC-ST group and their controls; however the serum concentrations of FBS were significantly different between these two groups. There was no significant difference in the cumulative incidence of hypertension and dislipidemia between the case and control groups. Women with previous GDM are at an increased risk of developing T2DM later in life. It seems that GDM screening in pregnancy could identify women at risk of metabolic disease.