Better predicting the risk of diabetes after pregnancy
Gestational diabetes affects approximately one in ten pregnant women. Although it usually disappears after childbirth, it is not without consequences. Affected women have an increased risk of developing glucose intolerance or type 2 diabetes in the years following pregnancy. Early identification of those most at risk is essential in order to implement appropriate monitoring and preventive measures.
A promising biological marker...
A study conducted by Professor Pierre Maechler's team in collaboration with the CHUV University Hospital in Vaud followed 211 women with gestational diabetes from the end of their pregnancy until one year after giving birth. The results, published in the Journal of Endocrinological Investigation, show that changes in a blood marker, 1,5-anhydroglucitol (1,5-AG), combined with simple indicators such as weight or insulin resistance, are associated with better glucose balance. This combination of indicators also enabled them to identify women with a lower risk of developing glucose intolerance or diabetes.
The blood level of 1,5-AG combined with pre-pregnancy weight made it possible to identify women at lower risk of developing glucose intolerance or diabetes. © Adapted from the graphical abstract from Quansah DY et al. 2025 in the Journal of Endocrinological Investigation.
... to predict the risk of diabetes after pregnancy
This research suggests that 1,5-AG, an easily measurable blood marker, could improve the detection of diabetes risk following pregnancy. Ultimately, it paves the way for more personalised postpartum monitoring and enhanced prevention of type 2 diabetes in affected women.