Diabetes is a disease caused by a lack or insufficient synthesis of insulin to provide the necessary control of blood sugar levels. Women with a history of diabetes during pregnancy – gestational diabetes – have an increased risk of developing cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. These are conditions that are associated with disturbances in blood circulation in the brain and the cardiovascular system. These findings come from a study published in The BMJtoday. Gestational diabetes is caused by impaired or insufficient insulin synthesis to control blood sugar levels during pregnancy. It is known that women with a history of gestational diabetes during pregnancy have an increased risk of developing cardiovascular diseases. However, the purpose of the study was to clarify exactly which diseases are more common in these patients. For this purpose, scientists have analyzed data published in the period 2006 – 2022, which confirm the relationship between gestational diabetes and cases of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. It found that of the 513,324 recorded cases of gestational diabetes, 9,507 were subsequently associated with the development of cardiovascular or cerebrovascular disease. Among more than 8 million women who were not diagnosed with gestational diabetes and who were part of the control group, 78,895 developed cardiovascular or cerebrovascular disease. Compared with patients without gestational diabetes, patients with a history of gestational diabetes had a 72% higher risk of developing cardiovascular disease and a 40% higher risk of developing cerebrovascular disease. Patients with gestational diabetes were at increased risk of developing coronary heart disease, heart attack, heart failure, angina and stroke. The risk of venous thromboembolism was 28% higher in patients with a history of gestational diabetes. Cardiovascular risk was also calculated according to various factors, including body mass index, social status, comorbidities and smoking. The mechanisms that link gestational diabetes with the development of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases subsequently are not yet fully understood. References: https://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmj-2022-070244