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CME Credit Offered
CME Credit Offered
Abstract Award
Abstract Award
Recording available 2/16-5/2
Recording available 2/16-5/2
AIUM Credit
AIUM Credit
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Foundation Awardee
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Abstract Award
Abstract Award
Foundation Awardee
Foundation Awardee

Poster Session 2

Category: Diabetes

Poster Session 2

(594) Maternal body mass index, treatment for gestational diabetes and delivery outcomes

Wednesday, February 11, 2026
3:30 PM - 5:00 PM  
Objective:
14% of pregnancies worldwide are affected by gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). GDM has been associated with an increased risk of adverse delivery outcomes including an increase in cesarean delivery by 30% and prematurity by nearly 70%. Maternal obesity is an additional risk factor for these adverse outcomes, but data on further stratification of GDM-related risks by maternal BMI category and GDM treatment are limited.  We hypothesized that the need for pharmacologic treatment for GDM would compound the risk of adverse outcomes beyond that associated with GDM and maternal obesity alone.

Study Design:
This is a retrospective cohort study of singleton pregnancies in individuals ≥18 years old diagnosed with GDM receiving prenatal care at Mayo Clinic Rochester, Minnesota and three outlying Mayo Clinic Health System community sites from 2018-2022. Universal GDM screening was employed with a 50 g oral glucose challenge test ± a 100 g oral glucose tolerance test. Maternal demographics, preexisting medical conditions, and selected obstetric and neonatal morbidities were evaluated.

Results:
2193 pregnancies in 2110 individuals affected by GDM were identified. 506 (23.1%) of these pregnancies occurred in patients with a normal BMI (18.5–25 kg/m2), 596 (27.2%) with overweight BMI (25–30 kg/m2), and 1091 (49.7%) with obese BMI (≥30 kg/m2). Cesarean delivery was higher in patients with obesity compared to overweight and normal weight patients (p < 0.001, table 1), but the requirement for glucose lowering therapy did not further increase this risk. Premature delivery was not significantly higher across maternal BMI categories (p=0.12, table 1), although gestational age at delivery was higher in those with normal BMI. There were no significant differences between those that did and did not require pharmacologic therapy (table 2). 

Conclusion:
Patients with GDM and an obese BMI had increased adverse delivery outcomes when compared to those with GDM in the normal and overweight BMI categories. The need for pharmacotherapy for GDM did not further increase these risks.