Temperature linked to gestational diabetes risk

CMAJ 2017 May 15;189(19):E682-9

Temperature shows a ‘direct relation’ with the likelihood of developing gestational diabetes mellitus, according to Canadian researchers who identified all 555 911 births in 396 828 women, from 2002 to 2014. Indeed, they warn that climate change may increase the number of cases of gestational diabetes.

The researchers examined the relationship between mean 30-day outdoor air temperature before a woman’s 27th week of pregnancy (the time of screening for gestational diabetes) and the likelihood of gestational diabetes mellitus.

The prevalence of gestational diabetes increased from 4.6% in women exposed to mean outdoor air temperatures of -10°C or less to 7.7% in those exposed to temperatures of at least 24°C. Each 10°C increase in mean 30-day temperature was associated with a 6% increase in the risk of gestational diabetes, after adjusting for confounders such as maternal age, parity and socioeconomic status. In two consecutive pregnancies for the same woman (n=133 500), each 10°C increase in mean 30-day temperature was associated with a 6% increase in the risk
of gestational diabetes.