First-Trimester Blood Test Accurately Predicts Gestational Diabetes

Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) affects many pregnancies and is typically detected midway through pregnancy, often too late to prevent complications. Women diagnosed late face increased risks such as high blood pressure, large babies, and premature delivery. The condition is also linked to lifelong risks of type 2 diabetes and heart disease for both mothers and their children. Now, a new study shows that specific maternal biomarkers taken from first-trimester random blood samples can significantly improve early prediction of GDM risk.

The study by researchers from the Global Centre for Asian Women’s Health (GloW, Singapore) and the National University of Singapore (NUS Medicine, Singapore) analyzed selected maternal biomarkers from first-trimester random blood samples to test their predictive value. The findings, published in BMC Medicine, showed that seven specific first-trimester biomarkers significantly improved GDM risk prediction beyond conventional factors like maternal age, pre-pregnancy BMI, and family history of diabetes.

Importantly, the predictive performance of these first-trimester biomarkers matched that of those taken from second-trimester fasting blood samples. This strong ability to distinguish between high-risk and low-risk pregnancies demonstrates their clinical usefulness and opens a pathway for earlier interventions.

Early and effective GDM screening could become increasingly important as maternal age and obesity rates continue to rise across Asia, driving higher numbers of affected women. By enabling earlier identification of risk, women can adopt timely nutrition and lifestyle changes to prevent complications during pregnancy. Moreover, early interventions could also reduce the likelihood of mothers and children developing type 2 diabetes or cardiovascular disease later in life.

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