Researchers examined the DNA of over 38,000 people who had gestational diabetes and compared them to hundreds of thousands of others. This huge project helped find thirty-seven specific places in our genes that are connected to getting diabetes during pregnancy. Seven of these genetic spots were found for the first time in this research.
The team also looked at how blood sugar changes during pregnancy. They found five new genetic markers that affect how the body handles sugar while expecting a baby. Some of these genetic changes work differently during pregnancy than they do in regular life.
The study showed that some genes act more strongly during pregnancy than in normal diabetes. For example, certain gene changes affect sugar levels much more in pregnancy than in regular type two diabetes. This helps doctors understand why pregnancy makes some people more likely to get high blood sugar.
