Gestational Diabetes News and Research

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Gestational diabetes is diabetes that is found for the first time when a woman is pregnant. Out of every 100 pregnant women in the United States, three to eight get gestational diabetes. Diabetes means that your blood glucose (also called blood sugar) is too high. Your body uses glucose for energy. But too much glucose in your blood can be harmful. When you are pregnant, too much glucose is not good for your baby.

Maternal weight shifts microbiota signaling in the fetal environment

A study conducted at the University of Oulu and Oulu University Hospital suggests that factors related to maternal weight are reflected in signaling particles produced by the maternal microbiota not only in the gut but also in amniotic fluid.

15 Jun 2026

Daily steps and less sitting associated with healthier pregnancies

Findings indicate that less sitting and more walking during pregnancy can reduce adverse outcomes, emphasizing the role of physical activity in maternal health.

5 Jun 2026

Exercise during pregnancy links to lower infant BMI at one year

Supervised exercise during pregnancy may lower infant BMI and reduce obesity risk, highlighting the impact of maternal health on early growth trajectories.

4 Jun 2026

What pregnancy reveals about a woman’s future heart health

Pregnancy acts as a natural cardiovascular stress test, revealing hidden heart disease and identifying women at higher long-term risk after complications such as preeclampsia, gestational diabetes, and preterm birth. The review highlights major evidence gaps in cardio-obstetric care and calls for stronger postpartum screening, dedicated women’s health clinics, and better inclusion of reproductive-age women in research.

3 Jun 2026

Engineers develop wearable ultrasound patch for continuous fetal monitoring

Engineers at the University of California San Diego have created a soft, wearable ultrasound patch that can continuously monitor a fetus for hours at a time - and it can do so consistently even as the fetus and umbilical cord constantly move during pregnancy.

26 May 2026

Ongoing nausea in pregnancy may flag anxiety and depression risk

Persistent or severe nausea during pregnancy was linked to higher maternal anxiety and depressive symptoms across gestation. The study found little consistent evidence that nausea worsened most perinatal outcomes, suggesting it may serve mainly as a clinical warning sign for psychological burden.

25 May 2026

New clinical guidelines outline strategies to improve postpartum cardiovascular care

A new Expert Consensus Decision Pathway by the American College of Cardiology (ACC) provides recommended strategies for improving postpartum care for individuals with and at risk for short- and long-term cardiovascular disease (CVD).

22 May 2026

Elevated blood glucose during pregnancy signals a significantly higher future diabetic risk

Gestational diabetes is a strong risk factor for future type 2 diabetes, even in women with normal pre-pregnancy weight, according to a study at the University of Gothenburg. The researchers call for earlier testing and better follow-up.

21 May 2026

Pregnancy-related disorders may shape offspring heart health into adulthood

Hypertensive disorders in pregnancy may lead to lasting cardiovascular issues in offspring, highlighting the need for improved maternal health strategies.

19 May 2026

Sleep disturbances during pregnancy may be a risk factor for gestational diabetes

A recent study by Kuopio University Hospital and the University of Eastern Finland shows that sleep disturbances during pregnancy may be a significant risk factor for gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM).

19 May 2026

Study traces adult heart disease risk back to the womb

A child's future heart health may be partially shaped before they are born, reports a new Northwestern Medicine study that found pregnancy complications are linked to poorer cardiovascular health in offspring more than 20 years later.

14 May 2026

Why are so many mothers missing diabetes follow-up after childbirth?

A New York City cohort study found that few women with postpartum-onset diabetes received guideline-recommended A1C monitoring over three years. Non-Hispanic Black women and mothers with more children faced lower monitoring rates, while Medicaid coverage was linked to better follow-up.

11 May 2026

Partners of women with gestational diabetes face higher health risks

Partners of women with gestational diabetes have more health-related risk factors and morbidity than partners of women without gestational diabetes.

11 May 2026

Postpartum diabetes monitoring remains low among many new mothers

Few women with postpartum-onset diabetes meet recommended A1C monitoring guidelines, highlighting a need to improve routine diabetes care-particularly among Black women-according to new research at Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health.

8 May 2026

App launched to track heart health after high-risk pregnancies

The MumCare app addresses postpartum cardiovascular risk, supporting women in managing health after pregnancy complications through personalized digital tools.

6 May 2026

How a common gut bacterium may protect health

Akkermansia muciniphila's impact on immunity and pregnancy outcomes underscores its promise as a probiotic, with implications for infectious disease treatment.

4 May 2026

Routine blood tests years before conception may predict pregnancy risks

Small abnormalities in blood sugar, blood lipids and inflammation several years before pregnancy are linked to an increased risk of high blood pressure during pregnancy and pre-eclampsia, according to a new study from Karolinska Institutet published in JAMA Network Open.

30 Apr 2026