How Does Ethnicity Affect Your Risk of Gestational Diabetes?

Gestational diabetes occurs during pregnancy, and this is ‘an insulin-resistant state where your response to insulin decreases,’ says Stuart Weiss, MD, an associate clinical professor at New York University School of Medicine’s Langone Medical Centre in New York City. Not only does this put your wellbeing at risk of gestational diabetes, but your baby’s wellness can also be affected and you’re also more likely to get type 2 diabetes after your pregnancy.

When it comes to ethnicity, results from a recent study suggest that it’s a key factor in determining your risk for gestational diabetes. You’re at a higher risk for this disease if you are of African, Hispanic or Asian descent, in comparison with non-Hispanic white women. Though the reason for this isn’t entirely understood, it most likely comes down to a number of factors. Some ethnic groups appear to have a genetic susceptibility to gestational diabetes, even when weight and age during pregnancy are taken into account, and your socioeconomic status may also influence the risk of developing gestational diabetes, as this can affect your access to health care in general as well as to prenatal care in particular.

So can you do anything to fight your higher risk of gestational diabetes? Even if your ethnicity does put you in the high-risk group of gestational diabetes, there are still a number of things you can do in order to minimise your likelihood of developing this disorder. Firstly, Dr Weiss says your risk is significant ‘when the availability of food is high and amount of exercise is low.’ Maintaining a healthy weight before, during, and after your pregnancy will help lower your risk of gestational diabetes and type 2 diabetes in the future, however you should not try to lose weight while you’re pregnant. Talk to your doctor for more information about an eating plan and exercise programme that appropriate during this time.

Also, make sure that before starting a family you talk to your doctor about checking your blood glucose levels and making sure they are in a normal range before you get pregnant. If you monitor your blood sugar, and keep it in check, this will lower your risk of developing gestational diabetes, and help you catch it early if you do develop the disease. Finally, make sure you have a good support team of a nutritionist and exercise expert with experience in gestational diabetes, as well as friends, family and your partner. It’s a lot to think about and cope with, but the good news is that you don’t have to do it alone.