Recurrence of diet‐treated gestational diabetes in primiparous women in northern Zhejiang, China: Epidemiology, risk factors and implications

Aim This study sought to determine the rate of recurrence of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) recurrence during the second pregnancies of women who were diagnosed with GDM during their first pregnancies, to identify risk factors associated with the probability of such recurrence and to evaluate the influence of GDM recurrence on pregnancy outcomes in north Zhejiang, China, after the recent adjustment to the nation's childbirth policy. Methods A retrospective longitudinal study was performed in north Zhejiang, China (at Jiaxing Maternal and Child Health Hospital). A total of 128 women who delivered two sequential live singleton infants and were diagnosed with diet‐treated GDM during their first pregnancies were included. Results According to the 2013 World Health Organization diagnostic criteria for diabetes during pregnancy, the prevalence of gestational diabetes was 11.02% in northern Zhejiang. The recurrence rate of GDM in northern Zhejiang was 43.75% (56/128). The age at second pregnancy, weight gain during pregnancy, interpregnancy interval and macrosomia during the index pregnancy were risk factors for GDM recurrence. Among those women with recurrent GDM, GDM developed earlier and caesarean section was more frequently required during the second pregnancy; in addition, the second pregnancy was associated with more premature and low birthweight infants but less macrosomia. Conclusion The recurrence rate of GDM is high in northern Zhejiang. Glucose monitoring and management are needed during subsequent pregnancies for patients who previously presented with GDM to improve maternal and fetal outcomes.