Embryonal risks in gestational diabetes mellitus

Diabetes mellitus is generally associated with a higher incidence of early pregnancy loss and congenital anomalies, though this relationship should be strictly restricted to patients with previously existing diabetes. In gestational diabetes mellitus, which often develops during the third trimester, no such relationship should exist, though the birth of a previous infant with a congenital anomaly is often assumed to be a risk factor for gestational diabetes.

The study attempts to analyse the congenital anomaly rate in women with gestational diabetes and compare this to the rates in women known to have normal glucose tolerance.

The prevalence of infants/fetuses with congenital anomalies born to women with gestational diabetes amounted to 4.48%, a rate similar to that recorded in women with normal glucose tolerance (4.54%).

The development of gestational diabetes, in contrast to pre-existing diabetes, does not appear to be associated with an increased risk for teratogenesis.