Siblings' Diabetes Increases GD In Your Pregnancy

If you have a sibling with diabetes, that increases the likelihood that you will develop gestational diabetes during your pregnancy. The odds are even bigger compared to just having one or both parents with diabetes. This is based on a study published in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology.

The study found that having two parents with diabetes increased a woman's likelihood of having diabetes eightfold but only doubled the likelihood of gestational diabetes. When a woman has a diabetic sibling, there was a sevenfold increase in the risk of gestational diabetes but only a slightly elevated risk of Type 2 diabetes. The results were based on a study of 4,566 mothers who participated in the National Health and Nutritional Examination Survey.

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At a time when even children are being diagnosed with diabetes, this is especially helpful for women of child-bearing age. Hopefully, people from families with a diabetic history will be more vigilant with their diet and lifestyle and will get themselves tested regulalry. And pregnant women from such families would do well to follow a strict diet and lifestyle plan during their pregnancy to avoid gestational diabetes, which brings about so many pregnancy and birth complications.