A major study of NHS maternity data found gestational diabetes is rising rapidly in England:
- Scale of rise: 1 in 8 mothers in England is now diagnosed, up 60% in five years — from ~8% of pregnancies in 2018 to over 12% in 2022.
- Study size: Researchers analyzed routinely collected data on over 2.3 million mothers and 2.8 million births across 184 hospitals between 2018-2022. This is the first time GDM prevalence has been estimated at this scale in the UK.
- Who is most affected: The sharpest rises were in Asian women — rates reached ~23% — and women in the most deprived areas, where rates reached ~14%.
- Linked outcomes and inequalities: Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) increases risks of preterm birth, emergency C-section, and babies born large or small for gestational age. The study also found wider inequalities: Black mothers were more likely to have an emergency C-section, women in deprived areas more likely to give birth preterm, and Asian mothers more likely to have babies small for gestational age. In these higher-risk groups, a GDM diagnosis further increased preterm birth risk.
- Why cases are rising: Researchers point to rising maternal age, increasing obesity rates, and better data capture. Changes to screening during the COVID-19 pandemic did not meaningfully affect the overall trend.
- Long-term implications: Experts warn the rise will strain already challenged maternity services. GDM often resolves after pregnancy but raises long-term risk of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease for both mother and child.
Prof. Rebecca Reynolds, University of Edinburgh, called the rise concerning and said better postpartum prevention is needed. Dr. Sonya Babu-Narayan, British Heart Foundation, said clinicians should routinely ask women about pregnancy-related risk factors when assessing heart attack and stroke risk, and women with a history of GDM should attend health checks.