24 Jun 2025 • A study of over 16,000 women found that elevated blood pressure in early pregnancy significantly increases the risk of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM).

Key Findings:

• Systolic blood pressure (SBP) between 120–139 mmHg was linked to a 27% higher GDM risk (OR = 1.27), while hypertension raised the risk by 32%.
• Each 10 mmHg increase in SBP was associated with a 14% rise in GDM risk.
• Higher diastolic BP and pulse pressure also showed incremental associations.
• BP trajectory analysis up to 20 weeks revealed that women with medium-high stable or peak SBP patterns faced up to a 98% increased GDM risk compared to those with consistently low SBP.

These findings support early BP monitoring as a potential tool for identifying at-risk pregnancies.

Source: Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism | Read Full Story