Progression to impaired glucose regulation, diabetes and metabolic syndrome in Chinese women with a past history of gestational diabetes

Background To examine the risk of developing impaired glucose regulation (IGR), diabetes mellitus (DM) and metabolic syndrome (MetS) in Chinese women with history of gestational diabetes. Methods 203 Chinese women enrolled in a previous study were followed up at a median of 8 (range 7-10) years of whom 136 had normal glucose tolerance (NGT) and 68 had gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and gestational impaired glucose tolerance (GIGT). Results In women with a history of gestational diabetes (n = 4), GIGT (n = 63) and NGT (n = 136) 2 (50%) 19 (30.2%) and 21 (15.4%) developed IGR while 2 (50%), 4 (6.3%), 3 (2.2%) developed DM respectively. Most women developed IGR (86%, n = 36) or DM (78%, n = 7) were undiagnosed. MetS occurred in 16 (7.9%) women with similar rates between those with and those without a history of gestational diabetes (7.5% vs 8.1%; p = 0.85). History of gestational diabetes [OR: 3.8 (95% CI 1.9-7.8)] and body mass index (BMI) >= 23 kg/m(2) [OR: 3.4 (95% CI 1.7-6.8)] at first antenatal visit were predictors for IGR or DM. Family history of DM [OR: 5.0 (95% Cl 1.5-16.4)] and BMI >= 23 kg/m(2) [OR: 28.3 (95% Cl 3.6-223)] at first antenatal visit were predictors for MetS. Conclusions Chinese women with a history of gestational diabetes have a high risk of IGR or DM. Overweight at the first antenatal visit is a common risk factor for IGR, DM and MetS. A prior history of gestational diabetes was predictive of IGR and DM while a positive family history of DM was predictive of MetS. Copyright (C) 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.