New analysis reveals that rates of type 2 diabetes are increasing twice as fast in younger women compared to their older counterparts. Diabetes UK highlights that this alarming trend may be largely driven by inadequate follow-up care for women who develop gestational diabetes (GD) during pregnancy.
Gestational diabetes occurs when a pregnant woman’s body cannot produce enough insulin, resulting in high blood sugar levels. Although GD usually resolves after childbirth, it significantly raises the risk of developing type 2 diabetes later in life.
According to Diabetes UK data spanning from 2017/18 to 2023/24, diagnoses of type 2 diabetes in women under 40 rose by 47%, while women aged 40 to 79 saw a 22% increase. Concerns are mounting that insufficient monitoring and care after GD, which affects between 10% and 20% of pregnant women, is contributing to the sharp rise.
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It is recommended that women with GD receive an HbA1c blood test—a measure of average blood glucose—to screen for diabetes six to 13 weeks postpartum, followed by annual tests. However, the first annual gestational diabetes audit published by NHS England revealed that only 57% of women received their annual HbA1c test after having GD.
The audit further showed that within one year, 11% of women with GD developed prediabetes, and within ten years, 15% progressed to type 2 diabetes. Colette Marshall, Chief Executive of Diabetes UK, called these statistics a “wake-up call,” stressing the importance of early intervention and ongoing care.
“Type 2 diabetes is escalating faster among younger women, yet vital opportunities to prevent its development are being missed. Pregnancy should not lead to chronic illness,” Marshall stated. “Despite their elevated risk, many women receive little to no follow-up care after GD.”
The personal story of Meg, a 33-year-old teacher from Somerset, underscores these concerns. Diagnosed with gestational diabetes in 2020, she has yet to have a postnatal diabetes check-up. “I was given no information about my increased risk for type 2 diabetes or how to prevent it,” Meg says. “After my premature son was born, my GP never discussed gestational diabetes or arranged the recommended follow-up tests.”
Meg also highlighted the importance of clear communication, especially since her risk is compounded by polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome and a family history of type 2 diabetes. “Understanding what gestational diabetes means and how to manage it would have given me much-needed support, both physically and mentally,” she added.
In response, Diabetes UK has urged the government and women’s health minister Baroness Merron to prioritize robust postnatal support for women affected by GD. Marshall emphasized, “As government strategies take shape, no woman with gestational diabetes should be left behind.”
Currently, around 4.7 million people in the UK live with a diabetes diagnosis. However, Diabetes UK estimates that nearly 1.3 million more people have undiagnosed type 2 diabetes, underscoring the critical need for better screening and follow-up care.