Pregnancies Affected by Diabetes in Teenagers and Emerging Adults: A Population-Based Study

Pregnancy in teenagers and emerging adults is associated with an increased risk of adverse outcomes. Similarly, pregnancies complicated by pregestational and gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) carry a higher risk of complications. However, limited data exist on the intersection of these two high-risk conditions. Our objective was to establish the prevalence of teenage and emerging adult pregnancies complicated by diabetes in a population-based cohort and compare outcomes to pregnancies uncomplicated by diabetes, noting a background prevalence of GDM of 8.1% and pregestational diabetes of 1.2% across all age groups in the United States.

This is a retrospective cohort study conducted in Olmsted County, Minnesota, USA. It includes female residents aged ≤21 years with a pregnancy ICD-10 code between January 1, 2013, and December 31, 2022. The main outcome measures assessed include maternal characteristics and maternal and fetal pregnancy outcomes.

A total of 1491 pregnancies in 1379 individuals were identified and included. In total, 68 (4.6%) pregnancies were complicated by diabetes: 51 (3.4%) with GDM and 17 (1.1%) with pregestational diabetes. In this study, pregnancies with diabetes had higher rates of adverse outcomes including cesarean delivery (GDM 29.4% vs. pregestational 60.0% vs. no diabetes 17.0%, P < 0.001), preeclampsia (GDM 15.7% vs. pregestational 40.0% vs. no diabetes 7.3%, P < 0.001), large-for-gestational-age neonates (GDM 13.7% vs. pre-existing 50.0% vs. no diabetes 5.8%, P < 0.001), and neonatal hypoglycemia (GDM 42.6% vs. pregestational 60.0% vs. no diabetes 13.3%, P < 0.001).

The prevalence of pregestational diabetes in our teenage and emerging adult population is similar to that of the general pregnancy population; however, the prevalence of GDM is significantly lower. Overall, diabetes in teenage pregnancy is associated with an elevated risk of adverse maternal and neonatal outcomes. Future research should evaluate interventions aimed at reducing adverse pregnancy outcomes in this vulnerable population.