New research reveals a 60% increase in gestational diabetes diagnoses among pregnant women in England over five years, highlighting growing disparities linked to ethnicity and socioeconomic factors amid rising obesity and maternal age.
Gestational diabetes is affecting a growing share of pregnant women in England, with new research from the University of Edinburgh suggesting that about one in eight mothers now receive the diagnosis. The condition, which develops when pregnancy hormones interfere with the body’s ability to use insulin properly, usually clears after childbirth, but it can still have serious consequences for mother and baby, including complications during delivery and an elevated risk of later illness.
The figures point to a steep rise over a short period. According to the study, diagnoses increased by 60% in five years, based on routinely collected NHS maternity data covering more than 2.3 million mothers and about 2.8 million births at 184 hospitals between 2018 and 2022. The researchers said the trend is likely being driven in part by older maternal age and rising obesity, both of which are established risk factors. Diabetes UK says gestational diabetes is also more common among women with a previous diagnosis, a family history of diabetes, or certain ethnic backgrounds, including South Asian, Black, African Caribbean and Middle Eastern women.
The burden is not being shared evenly. The University of Edinburgh team found the sharpest increases among women from ethnic minority communities and those living in more deprived areas. Asian women had diagnosis rates of around 23%, while women in the most deprived areas faced a 14% chance of diagnosis. The same analysis also suggested that black mothers were more likely to need an emergency Caesarean section, women in deprived neighbourhoods were more likely to deliver pre-term, and Asian mothers were more likely to have babies born small for gestational age.
Rebecca Reynolds, professor of metabolic medicine at the University of Edinburgh, said the findings were the first UK estimate of the number of women living with gestational diabetes and warned that the rise is putting pressure on maternity services that are already under strain. She added that the condition raises the risk of future type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease, underlining the importance of better prevention and postnatal follow-up. Other UK research has previously pointed to the importance of standardised screening and management, as well as the strong link between maternal obesity and the condition.
Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical judgment, advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
