Gestational Diabetes May Increase Heart Risk

Gestational diabetes may increase the risk of heart disease, even for women who don’t develop type 2 diabetes later. That’s the conclusion of a new study that included nearly 900 women. They did not have heart disease or diabetes when the study began. About 13% developed gestational diabetes. This form of diabetes occurs during pregnancy. It usually goes away afterward. But it does increase the risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Diabetes increases the risk of heart disease. After 20 years of follow-up, researchers measured the women’s carotid arteries. Thick arteries may indicate atherosclerosis, a buildup of deposits inside arteries. This condition can lead to heart disease or stroke. Carotid arteries were thicker in women who had gestational diabetes in the past than in other women.