What are the primary risk factors for developing gestational diabetes?

The primary risk factors for developing gestational diabetes include obesity, a family history of diabetes, and advanced maternal age. Obesity is significant because excess body weight can lead to insulin resistance, which is a crucial factor in the development of gestational diabetes. When a woman becomes pregnant, her body needs to produce more insulin to help manage the blood sugar levels for both herself and her growing baby. If she is already insulin resistant due to obesity, the body may struggle to compensate, leading to elevated glucose levels.

A family history of diabetes suggests a genetic predisposition, meaning that individuals with close relatives who have diabetes are at a higher risk due to inherited factors that can affect insulin sensitivity and glucose metabolism. Advanced maternal age is another critical factor because older pregnant women tend to have a higher likelihood of other risk factors, and physiological changes associated with aging can also contribute to insulin resistance.

In contrast, the other options do not align with the primary recognized risk factors for gestational diabetes. Lack of exercise, smoking, and high cholesterol may influence overall health, but they are not direct risk factors in the context of gestational diabetes. Similarly, frequent infections, high blood pressure, low calcium, early menopause, being underweight, and genetic disorders do not have a strong