Gestational Diabetes Mellitus and Its Long-Term Health Risks: An Evidence-Based Synthesis

Nalongo Bina K.

Faculty of Medicine Kampala International University Uganda

ABSTRACT

Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is a common pregnancy-related metabolic disorder with well-established short-term obstetric consequences and increasingly recognized long-term health implications for affected women. Evidence consistently demonstrates that women with a history of GDM face a substantially elevated risk of developing type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), cardiovascular disease (CVD), metabolic syndrome, and other chronic conditions later in life. This evidence-based synthesis reviews the pathophysiology of GDM, immediate obstetric outcomes, and postpartum metabolic trajectory to contextualize these long-term risks. It further examines the epidemiological evidence linking GDM to T2DM, CVD, metabolic syndrome, chronic kidney disease, and adverse outcomes in subsequent pregnancies, as well as the biological mechanisms that may underlie these associations, including persistent insulin resistance, chronic inflammation, oxidative stress, and postpartum weight gain. Current strategies for screening, prevention, and intervention, ranging from postpartum glucose testing and lifestyle modification to pharmacologic therapy when indicated, are also discussed. Despite growing knowledge, important gaps remain regarding optimal screening intervals, long-term preventive strategies, and the causal pathways linking GDM to chronic disease. Addressing these gaps through robust longitudinal research and improved postpartum follow-up may significantly reduce the long-term disease burden associated with GDM and improve women’s health across the life course.

Keywords: Gestational diabetes mellitus, Type 2 diabetes mellitus, Cardiovascular disease. Metabolic syndrome and Postpartum screening.

CITE AS: Wambui Kibibi J. (2026). Gestational Diabetes Mellitus and Its Long-Term Health Risks: An Evidence-Based Synthesis. IDOSR JOURNAL OF APPLIED SCIENCES 11(1):141-147. https://doi.org/10.59298/IDOSRJAS/2026/111141147