Birth characteristics of women who develop gestational diabetes: population based study.

Women with gestational diabetes are at increased risk of non-insulin dependent diabetes and their babies are at increased risk of adverse perinatal outcomes. These risks can be reduced by better detection and control of diabetes. Identifying risk factors for gestational diabetes may improve screening programmes. As low birth weight has been related to non-insulin dependent diabetes in elderly populations, we decided to investigate whether women’s characteristics at birth could predict their subsequent risk of gestational diabetes.