RISK FACTORS FOR GESTATIONAL DIABETES: A LITERATURE REVIEW

Abstract

Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) can be defined as carbohydrate intolerance of varying severity. It occurs due to increased insulin resistance, generally caused by the hormones involved in pregnancy. The disease begins during pregnancy, therefore, its early diagnosis and treatment is inevitable to reduce maternal-fetal complications. GDM is the main metabolic complication during pregnancy. Its prevalence can reach 25% in pregnant women depending on the study location, with higher rates among women living in the Middle East and North Africa. In Brazil, it is estimated that this data can reach 18%, showing that the topic has great relevance at an international and national level. Considering the great importance of this topic for public health in general, this narrative literature review brought together articles from the main databases aiming to explore possible risk factors predisposing to GDM in the selected literature, highlighting those of greatest importance for the emergence of the disease. . It was concluded that the main risk factors for developing diabetes during pregnancy are overweight and the pregnant woman's age (generally over 35 years of age).