SNP Shot: Genomic Insights

Gestational diabetes is a condition where blood sugar levels become elevated during pregnancy, even in women who didn't have diabetes beforehand. In most cases, blood sugar returns to normal after delivery. However, there's a 30-70% chance it will recur in future pregnancies. Furthermore, around 50% of women who experience gestational diabetes will develop type 2 diabetes within a few years following their pregnancy.

Gestational diabetes is usually detected during the second trimester through routine screening during prenatal checkups, as many women experience no noticeable symptoms. Without treatment, gestational diabetes elevates the risk of preeclampsia (high blood pressure during pregnancy) and premature birth.

Babies born to mothers with gestational diabetes often have a higher-than-average birth weight (macrosomia), potentially leading to delivery complications. These infants are also prone to dangerously low blood sugar shortly after birth. Later in life, they face a heightened risk of obesity, heart problems, and type 2 diabetes.

Inheritance:

Gestational diabetes is a multifaceted condition, and its inheritance pattern is not straightforward. Nevertheless, many women with gestational diabetes have a family history of diabetes, often type 2, in a close relative like a parent or sibling.