Author(s)

Sophia Delgado-Astacio¹, Raymond L. Tremblay^1,2, Maricarmen Colón-Díaz³

¹Department of Biology, University of Puerto Rico, Humacao, Puerto Rico, United States.
²Department of Microbiology and Immunology, San Juan Bautista School of Medicine, Caguas, Puerto Rico, United States.
³Department of Physiology and Pathology, San Juan Bautista School of Medicine, Caguas, Puerto Rico, United States.

Background: Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is a temporary form of insulin resistance during pregnancy and is linked to adverse outcomes for both mothers and offspring. Maternal risks include an increased prevalence of pre-eclampsia, cesarean delivery, and the development of type 2 diabetes within five to ten years post-delivery. For offspring, exposure to elevated maternal glucose levels is associated with macrosomia. A significant challenge in evaluating the prevalence of GDM in Puerto Rico is the lack of recent research quantifying this condition in pregnant women living in Puerto Rico. Objective: This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of Gestational Diabetes Mellitus from 2016 to 2021 by analyzing data collected by Puerto Rico’s Department of Health. Methods: We obtained publicly accessible data from the Division of Children, Mothers, and Adolescents from Puerto Rico’s Department of Health to estimate the prevalence of GDM across the island. Additionally, we correlated the prevalence with socioeconomic, educational, and demographic variables using beta regression models to assess their significance. Results: The prevalence of GDM ranged from 3.2% to 4.5% for the six years studied, with an average prevalence of 3.68%. Regression analysis revealed a significant positive relationship between maternal age and educational level. Higher educational attainment was associated with a reduced risk of GDM, while increasing maternal age was linked to a higher prevalence of the condition. Conclusion: This statistical analysis provides evidence of a steady increase in the prevalence of GDM in Puerto Rico from 2016 to 2021, highlighting the importance of ongoing surveillance and specific interventions to mitigate risk factors.

Gestational Diabetes Mellitus, Diabetes, Glucose Intolerance, Pregnancy in Diabetics, Hispanic Women, Puerto Rico

Delgado-Astacio, S. , Tremblay, R. and Colón-Díaz, M. (2024) Prevalence of Gestational Diabetes Mellitus in Puerto Rico: A Study from 2016 to 2021. Journal of Diabetes Mellitus, 14, 194-206. doi: 10.4236/jdm.2024.144017.