Gestational Diabetes Rates Surge in Melbourne's South-East, Study Reveals
A new study conducted by Monash University researchers has identified increased rates of gestational diabetes in Melbourne's south-east, alongside previously recognized areas in the west and north. The research, which analyzed data from over 1.7 million women who gave birth in Victoria between 2016 and 2021, maps the geographical distribution of the condition and highlights associated health risks and pressures on the healthcare system.
Study Findings and Geographical Distribution
The study, published in the scientific journal BMJ Open, examined gestational diabetes, a condition characterized by elevated blood sugar during pregnancy. It is the first study to map the disproportionate distribution of gestational diabetes across specific Australian areas. Researchers utilized Statistical Areas Level 2 (SA2) data, age-standardizing incidence, and classified "hot" and "cold" spots with a 95 percent or higher confidence level.
Findings indicate:
- Previously Identified Areas: Consistently higher rates were observed in Melbourne's west and north, including suburbs such as Werribee and Craigieburn, where the condition can affect more than one in five women.
- Emerging Area: By the 2020-21 period, a new area with elevated rates was identified in Melbourne's south-east, encompassing suburbs like Glen Waverley, Wantirna South, Mulgrave, Dandenong, and Cranbourne. In these areas, the condition also affected more than one in five pregnant women.
- Lower Rates: Most of Melbourne's inner suburbs and affluent bayside areas consistently reported lower-than-average rates over the six-year period.
Across Australia, the incidence of gestational diabetes more than doubled between 2013 and 2022.
Health Implications
Professor Jacqueline Boyle of Monash University stated that tracking gestational diabetes rates is important due to the associated pregnancy risks. These risks include:
- Pre-eclampsia (high blood pressure)
- Macrosomia (high birth weight)
- Increased likelihood of caesarean delivery
Women diagnosed with gestational diabetes also face an elevated risk of developing type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and gestational diabetes in subsequent pregnancies.
Contributing Factors
PhD student Wubet Worku Takele, the lead author of the paper, suggested that various socio-environmental factors likely contribute to these identified patterns. These factors include:
- Correlation with areas of socioeconomic disadvantage.
- High concentrations of non-European migrant women, who are known to have an increased risk due to genetic, cultural, and structural factors.
- Environmental factors such as limited access to healthy food outlets and elevated air pollution.
- A lack of culturally responsive health promotion resources and services for diverse populations.
Risk Factors for Gestational Diabetes
Key risk factors identified for gestational diabetes include:
- Previous diagnosis of gestational diabetes
- Pregnant women aged 40 or older
- Higher Body Mass Index (BMI)
- Family history of type 2 diabetes
- Being from First Nations, African, Melanesian, Polynesian, South Asian, Chinese, Southeast Asian, Middle Eastern, Hispanic, and South American backgrounds.
Healthcare System Impact
Alison Nankervis, a senior physician for the diabetes service at the Royal Women’s Hospital, noted that hospitals are experiencing strain due to the volume of women being diagnosed with gestational diabetes. Hospitals in areas such as Dandenong and Footscray are particularly affected and require additional resources.
Victoria implemented tightened diagnostic criteria for gestational diabetes in late 2023, which initially led to a reduction in patient numbers. However, the number of women presenting with the condition has since returned to high levels.
Nankervis affirmed that gestational diabetes is treatable through lifestyle adjustments and medication.