Depression in Early Pregnancy Linked to Gestational Diabetes, Study Finds

Researchers at NIH have discovered a two-way link between depression and gestational diabetes. Women who reported feeling depressed during the first two trimesters of pregnancy were nearly twice as likely to develop gestational diabetes, according to an analysis of pregnancy records. Conversely, a separate analysis found that women who developed gestational diabetes were more likely to report postpartum depression 6 weeks after giving birth, compared to a similar group of women who did not develop gestational diabetes.

The study was published online in Diabetologia.

Gestational diabetes is a form of diabetes (high blood sugar level) occurring only in pregnancy, which if untreated may cause serious health problems for mother and infant.

“Our data suggest that depression and gestational diabetes may occur together,” said the study’s first author, Dr. Stefanie Hinkle of NICHD. “Until we learn more, physicians may want to consider observing pregnant women with depressive symptoms for signs of gestational diabetes. They also may want to monitor women who have had gestational diabetes for signs of postpartum depression.”

Although obesity is known to increase the risk for gestational diabetes, the likelihood of gestational diabetes was higher for non-obese women reporting depression than for obese women with depression.