Diabetes During Pregnancy Increases the Risk of Cardiovascular Problems

People who develop diabetes during pregnancy, known as gestational diabetes, are at a greater risk of developing heart problems later in life, according to a new study presented at the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine (SMFM) annual meeting.

The facts about the range of cardiovascular problems that can arise in middle age for those with a history of gestational diabetes is less known.

Gestational Diabetes About
The condition is not caused by a lack of insulin, but by the action of hormones produced during pregnancy that blocks the action of insulin.

‘Gestational diabetes during pregnancy is associated with an increased risk of more diverse cardiovascular outcomes later.’

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To explore this, researchers looked at the cardiovascular health of 219,330 women who had delivered at least one baby from 2006 to 2010 using the UK Biobank, a database containing health information from an estimated 500,000 participants.

The results showed that 13,094 women (6.0 percent) developed cardiovascular problems, and women with a history of gestational diabetes were at greater risk of a variety of cardiovascular problems, and that risk increased with age.

After adjusting for confounding variables, women with a history of gestational diabetes were at an increased risk for a range of cardiovascular conditions, including coronary artery disease, heart attack, stroke, peripheral artery disease, heart failure, mitral regurgitation, and atrial fibrillation.

Diabetes and Dental Health
The oral health preventive strategies in individuals at risk for diabetes are important because they play a key role in oral diseases that affect dental care.

“We’ve known that gestational diabetes can lead to heart problems,” said one of the study’s authors, Seung Mi Lee, MD, a maternal-fetal subspecialist and associate professor of obstetrics and gynecology at Seoul National University College of Medicine.

This research shows us the extent of heart health problems that can arise long after someone has given birth. The next step is to look at what kind of preventative measures can be taken during pregnancy to hopefully prevent cardiovascular disease from developing later in life.

Can Healthy Diet Reduce Gestational Diabetes Risk?
Pregnant women consuming vegetables, fruits, berries, and wholegrain products during early pregnancy are at lower the risk of developing gestational diabetes.

Source-Medindia

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