The association between weight gain at different stages of pregnancy and risk of gestational diabetes mellitus

• Published in: Journal of diabetes investigation 2022-02, Vol.13 (2), p.359-366
• Main Authors: Chuang, Ya‐Chun, Huang, Lulu, Lee, Wan‐Ying, Shaw, Steven W., Chu, Fu‐Ling, Hung, Tai‐Ho
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Body Mass Index; Body weight gain; Diabetes mellitus; Diabetes, Gestational - diagnosis; Diabetes, Gestational - epidemiology; Female; Fetuses; Gestation; Gestational diabetes; Gestational diabetes mellitus; Gestational Weight Gain; Glucose; Hospitals; Humans; Hypertension; Hyperthyroidism; Miscarriage; Original; Overweight; Population; Pre-eclampsia; Preeclampsia; Pregnancy; Pregnancy complications; Pregnancy Outcome; Pregnancy Trimester, Second; Retrospective Studies; Statistical analysis; Weight Gain; Womens health
• ISSN: 2040-1116; 2040-1124; 2040-1124
• DOI: 10.1111/jdi.13648

Aims/Introduction Women with excessive gestational weight gain (GWG) are at a higher risk for complications during pregnancy, such as preeclampsia. However, the association between excessive GWG and gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) remains unclear. Materials and Methods We retrospectively reviewed 8,352 women from our obstetric database with singleton pregnancies who gave birth after 28 completed weeks of gestation between January 1, 2012, and December 31, 2016, excluding pregnancies complicated by fetal anomalies, fetal death, and overt diabetes. Diagnosis of GDM was based on the criteria recommended by the International Association of Diabetes and Pregnancy Study Groups. We used two classification methods to define excessive GWG: a weight gain above the 90th percentile of the population, or exceeding the upper range recommended by the Institute of Medicine, stratified by pre‐pregnancy body mass index. Statistical analysis was performed using multiple logistic regression to determine the association between excessive GWG and the risk of GDM. Results Overall, 1,129 women (13.5%) were diagnosed with GDM. There was no difference in GWG between women with and without GDM in the first trimester and before GDM screening. Women with GDM had significantly less GWG in the second trimester, after GDM screening, and throughout the whole gestation than women without GDM. No correlation was found between excessive GWG in the first and second trimesters, before GDM screening, and the later development of GDM. Conclusions Our results indicate that excessive GWG prior to GDM screening is not associated with an increased risk of GDM. There was no difference in weight gain between women with and without gestational diabetes mellitus in the first trimester and before screening for GDM. Women with GDM had significantly less weight gain in the second trimester, after GDM screening, and throughout the whole gestation than women without GDM. No association was found between excessive weight gain in the first and second trimesters, before GDM screening, and the later development of GDM.