Abstract:
The early detection and management of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is an important
public health goal. GDM, which is defined as a glucose intolerance that develops during pregnancy,
affects about 14% of pregnancies globally, and without effective treatment, it is associated with adverse
short- and long-term maternal and neonatal outcomes. Risk-factor screening is an acceptable and
affordable strategy to enable risk stratification and intervention. However, common biological risk
factors such as overweight or obesity, excessive gestational weight gain, and family history of diabetes
often have poor predictive ability, failing to identify a large proportion of women at risk of developing
GDM. Accumulating evidence implicate psychosocial factors in contributing to GDM risk. As such,
intimate partner violence (IPV), through its contributing effects on maternal stress and depression,
presents a plausible risk factor for GDM. Experiencing IPV during pregnancy may dysregulate
the hypothalamus–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis, leading to increased cortisol secretion and insulin
resistance. These effects may exacerbate the insulin-resistant environment characteristic of pregnancy,
thus increasing GDM risk. This review explores the relationship between IPV and GDM. We highlight
studies that have linked IPV with GDM and propose a biological mechanism that connects IPV and
GDM. Recommendations for IPV screening strategies to prevent GDM are discussed.
