I thought I knew most of the major Asian American Medical Hazards, but this one surprised me. Asian American women have the highest risk of Gestational Diabetes. Some label this the largest undocumented disparity in maternal health.
For those of you who don’t know, Gestational Diabetes Mellitis (GDM) is diabetes diagnosed during pregnancy, usually between the 24th and 28th week of pregnancy. The cause is unknown. Women who develop GDM have a 50% chance of developing type 2 diabetes. Unmanaged GDM increases the odds of preeclampsia, premature birth, and other problems. Children of women with GDM have a higher risk of issues.
As the Atlantic article points out, researchers at the Joslin Diabetes Center have been tracking a GDM increase in Chinese American populations faster than that of the general population. No one seems to know why. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommends glucose screen for Asian American women with BMI greater than 23.
(photo credit: Jessica Merz licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic license)
