The study found no statistical difference between urban and rural areas—pregnant women in villages face the same threat as those in metropolitan centres.
Published Dec 15, 2025 | 7:00 AM ⚊ Updated Dec 15, 2025 | 7:00 AM
Gestational Diabetes. Representative Image.
Synopsis: A study by ICMR-INDIAB noted that one in four pregnant women in South India now carries gestational diabetes mellitus. The survey mapped the condition across 31 states and union territories, revealing that 22.4 percent of pregnant women nationwide face elevated blood sugar levels during pregnancy.
One in four pregnant women in South India now carries gestational diabetes mellitus, a condition that threatens both mother and child with complications ranging from pre-term birth to lifelong metabolic disease.
The prevalence stands at 24.2 percent — a figure that positions the region above the national crisis line but below the alarming peaks recorded in central and north India.
Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is a condition where a woman develops high blood sugar levels during pregnancy, even though she didn’t have diabetes before becoming pregnant.
India’s first nationally representative survey on gestational diabetes mellitus has mapped the condition across 31 states and union territories, revealing that 22.4 percent of pregnant women nationwide face elevated blood sugar levels during pregnancy. The study, conducted under the ICMR-INDIAB national survey and published in the Indian Journal of Medical Research, analysed data from 1,032 pregnant women between 2008 and 2024.
Central India recorded the highest prevalence at 32.9 percent, followed by North India at 31.4 percent. South India’s 24.2 percent places it third, while East India registered 17.9 percent, northeast India 16.6 percent, and West India logged the lowest at 16 percent.
The findings challenge assumptions that lifestyle-related risks concentrate only in cities. The study found no statistical difference between urban and rural areas—pregnant women in villages face the same threat as those in metropolitan centres.
“To our knowledge, this is the first nationally representative study assessing the prevalence of GDM in India. It is also the first to report on regional prevalence rates of GDM and also the first to report on the prevalence of early and late GDM,” the authors stated.
The study highlighted that early gestational diabetes — detected before 20 weeks of pregnancy — affects 19.2 percent of women. Late gestational diabetes, diagnosed after 20 weeks, appears in 23.4 percent of women.
In South India specifically, doctors now screen women throughout pregnancy rather than waiting for the traditional second-trimester tests. The research shows that one in five pregnant women already carries the condition before reaching the halfway point of gestation.
Women with gestational diabetes in the study averaged 27.2 years of age, compared to 26.1 years for those without the condition. They measured taller, achieved higher education levels (14.9 percent held college degrees versus 10.1 percent without the condition), and demonstrated better occupational status.
Researchers found connections between gestational diabetes and elevated systolic blood pressure as well as family history of diabetes. These factors mark women who require closer monitoring throughout pregnancy.
The study tracked changes over 12 years across five phases of data collection. Prevalence climbed from 13.3 percent in 2008-10 to 30.2 percent in 2019-20 — mirroring India’s escalating diabetes burden driven by changing lifestyles, increasing maternal age, and metabolic vulnerabilities among Asian Indian women.
“We report the following findings: overall, 22.4 percent of the pregnant women had GDM in India; the prevalence of early GDM was 19.2 percent and that of late GDM, 23.4 percent; there is heterogeneity in the prevalence of GDM in India, with the highest prevalence seen in central India and the lowest in western India,” the authors reported.
The authors warned that inadequate screening in routine antenatal care risks leaving thousands of women without diagnosis or treatment. Untreated gestational diabetes leads to complications, including pre-term birth, high birth weight, birth trauma, and long-term diabetes risk for both mother and child.
“With nearly one in four pregnant women in India having GDM, this represents a large population at risk of pregnancy complications and future chronic disease, necessitating urgent public health attention and resources,” the authors concluded.
The study used data from pregnant women across all three trimesters, ensuring representation from early pregnancy through delivery. None of the pregnant women studied had pre-pregnancy diabetes, and only one woman reported pre-pregnancy hypertension.
Gestational diabetes mellitus refers to glucose intolerance—elevated blood glucose levels first detected during pregnancy. The condition increases the risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes for both mother and foetus and is associated with increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease in the future.
The current prevalence of gestational diabetes globally stands at 15.6 percent, according to the International Diabetes Federation. South Asians, including Asian Indians, have a higher prevalence compared to other ethnic groups.
The study confirms that Asian Indians develop type 2 diabetes at younger ages and at lower body mass index compared to other populations, translating to increased risk during reproductive years.
“Poor implementation of screening protocols can delay diagnosis and intervention, increasing risks for mother and child. Overall, these findings stress the critical need for standardised, universal GDM screening and effective management integrated into maternal health programmes nationwide,” the authors stated.
(Edited by Muhammed Fazil.)
