Ethnic Differences in the Risk of Developing Metabolic Syndrome or its Components in Women with a History of Gestational Diabetes Mellitus

Women with a history of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) are known to be at increased risk for diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Other cardiovascular risk factors that integrate the metabolic syndrome also seem to be more prevalent in this group of women.

On the other hand, several studies have shown that there is an ethnic effect on disease risk. Prevalence of type 2 diabetes, gestational diabetes and other cardiovascular risk factors vary greatly in populations of different ethnicity.

Therefore, we have reviewed the available evidence on the prevalence of the metabolic syndrome components in women with previous GDM along with the differential characteristics of each ethnic group.

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The Association of Glycemic Markers with Plasma Adipocytokine Levels in Women with Gestational Diabetes

Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is a result of carbohydrate intolerance which occurs during pregnancy. In one third of patients, it returns to normal glucose tolerance after delivery. Alterations in maternal metabolism occur during normal pregnancy in order to provide the needs for fetus and placenta and insulin secretion increases 2-2.5 fold to maintain the euglycemic state.

A pregnancy accompanied by hyperinsulinemia represents a causative factor for insulin resistance and leads to vascular dysfunction via inflammatory mediators.

Insulin sensitivity also is decreased progressively owing to the diabetogenic effects of gestational hormones and proinflammatory cytokines have been attributed to be causative factors of insulin resistance

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