As Korean Mothers Age, a New Generation Faces Rising Diabetes Risks (Image supported by ChatGPT)
SEOUL, Oct. 24 (Korea Bizwire) — More than one in eight expectant mothers in South Korea now develop gestational diabetes, a ten-year study has found, prompting government efforts to track and prevent the long-term health risks that can follow both mothers and their children.
The Korean Diabetes Association and the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency’s National Institute of Health disclosed the findings at a briefing in Seoul this week.
Based on insurance and health-screening data from 2013 to 2023, the study showed that the prevalence of gestational diabetes rose from 7.6 percent to 12.4 percent over the decade.
Researchers identified advanced maternal age as the main driver of the increase: the average age of mothers giving birth rose from 31.8 to 33.5, and the rate of gestational diabetes nearly doubled among women over 40 compared with those in their twenties.
Obesity also played a defining role. Among women with a body-mass index (BMI) of 30 or higher, nearly a quarter developed gestational diabetes.
Nutritional imbalances further magnified the risk—pregnant women who consumed the least balanced diets faced 1.8 times higher odds of developing the condition, particularly when deficient in vitamin B6, niacin, or calcium, according to a separate study by Bundang CHA Hospital.
Medical experts cautioned that the disorder’s impact extends well beyond pregnancy. “Gestational diabetes affects not only the mother but the child,” said Kwak Soo-heon, a professor at Seoul National University Hospital.
The study found that children born to mothers with gestational diabetes face a 1.5-fold higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes later in life—and as much as 4.6 times higher if their mothers required insulin treatment during pregnancy.
In response, the National Institute of Health has launched a nationwide cohort project across nine hospitals to study intergenerational diabetes risk, now expanding to include fathers and offspring. The goal is to develop a predictive framework for early intervention.
“The real concern is that diabetes risk can be inherited across generations,” said Im Joo-hyun, head of the institute’s endocrine and kidney disease division. “By identifying high-risk groups early, we aim to prevent the progression to type 2 diabetes.”
Lead researcher Ryu Hyun-mi expressed hope that the initiative would pave the way for precision medicine tailored to Korean mothers. “With more advanced research,” she said, “we can move toward personalized prevention and healthier pregnancies, even as the nation continues to age.”
Lina Jang (linajang@koreabizwire.com)
