The Institut national de santé publique du Québec (INSPQ) published in the fall of 2017 a surveillance report on the evolution of gestational diabetes from 1989 to 2012.

Here are the key findings of the report:

  • The prevalence of gestational diabetes tripled over 24 years (from 24.7 to 75.5 cases per 1000 births). This increase affects mothers of all ages, but it is more pronounced in mothers aged 40 and older.
  • The exact causes of this increase are unknown. However, factors that could potentially be involved include:
    • Changes in screening methods leading to an increase in diagnoses.
    • The rise in the average age of mothers and the increase in obesity rates in the population.
    • Material disadvantage.
  • Gestational diabetes is associated with an increased risk of pre-eclampsia, induction of labor, cesarean section, shoulder dystocia, preterm birth, macrosomia, and jaundice in newborns. Additionally, the neonatal mortality rate has remained stable among babies exposed to gestational diabetes but has decreased among babies not exposed to gestational diabetes.

To access the complete report