US gestational diabetes rates rise 36% since 2016

An increase in the prevalence of gestational diabetes among US patients has been observed every year since 2016, according to researchers at Northwestern University.¹

The analysis included over 12 million US births and reported a 36% increase in gestational diabetes between 2016 and 2024. These increases were observed across all racial and ethnic groups, updating earlier research from 2011 to 2019 to confirm constant increases across a continuous, 15-year period.

“Gestational diabetes has been persistently increasing for more than 10 years, which means whatever we have been trying to do to address diabetes in pregnancy has not been working,” said Nilay Shah, MD, MPH, senior author and assistant professor of cardiology at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine.

Significant racial and ethnic disparities observed

The study, published in JAMA Internal Medicine on December 29, 2025, is the most current analysis of US gestational diabetes trends. Birth certificate data from the National Center for Health Statistics was assessed for first singleton pregnancies between 2016 and 2024.

When categorizing patients by race and ethnicity, the most significant gestational diabetes rates were observed in those who were American Indian, Asian, or Pacific Islander. According to Shah, these groups are often underrepresented in health research, leaving experts unsure why they have increased rates. Rates of gestational diabetes in 2024 included:

• 137 per 1000 for American Indian women
• 131 per 1000 for Asian women
• 126 per 1000 for Pacific Islander women
• 85 per 1000 for Hispanic women
• 71 per 1000 for White women
• 67 per 1000 for Black women

Accelerating annual increases across populations

In comparison, these rates were 113.2, 93.7, 93.8, 63, 51.2, and 55.7 per 1000 individuals, respectively, in 2016. The overall rate in 2016 was 58.2 per 1000, increasing to 79.3 per 1000 in 2024. This indicated an average annual percent chance (AAPC) of 3.8.

The most significant AAPC of 4.1 was observed in both Asian and Pacific Islander patients. These populations were followed by White patients with an AAPC of 3.9, Hispanic with 3.5, Black with 2.7, and American Indian with 2.4.

Overall, these rates indicated a 36% increase in gestational diabetes prevalence vs 2016. Shah noted these trends likely indicate worsening health among US patients, with gestational diabetes linked to immediate pregnancy risks, alongside future diabetes and heart disease risks for both affected mothers and their infants.

“The reasons for the differences in gestational diabetes rates across individual groups are an important area for further research,” said Shah.

Neighborhood deprivation as an emerging risk factor

As part of research to evaluate factors influencing gestational diabetes risk between subgroups, associations with the Neighborhood Deprivation Index were evaluated in a 2025 study, the results of which were discussed in an interview by Melissa Furlong, PhD, assistant professor at the U of A Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health.²

The data highlighted an increased risk of gestational diabetes among pregnant women residing in more deprived neighborhoods. According to Furlong, this indicates neighborhood quality as an overlooked factor influencing maternal health. These women may face increased risks because of reduced access to healthy food, safe spaces for physical activity, and adequate health care.

“This is actually one of the first studies that shows that… where [people] live can affect their risk,” said Furlong.

References

1. Gestational diabetes rose every year in the US since 2016. Northwestern University. December 29, 2025. Accessed January 6, 2026. https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1110891
2. Furlong M. Melissa Furlong, PhD, links neighborhood deprivation to gestational diabetes risk. August 27, 2025. Accessed January 6, 2026. https://www.contemporaryobgyn.net/view/melissa-furlong-phd-links-neighborhood-deprivation-to-gestational-diabetes-risk