5 Lifestyle Habits May Cut Heart Disease Risk by 86 Percent in Women with Gestational Diabetes: Study Finds - Video

A study published in the Journal of the American Heart Association (JAHA) has found that women with a history of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) can reduce their risk of developing cardiovascular disease (CVD) by up to 86% through sustained healthy lifestyle habits.

Gestational diabetes mellitus, a condition marked by high blood sugar levels during pregnancy, is one of the most common pregnancy complications globally. Women affected by gestational diabetes mellitus face nearly double the risk of developing heart disease later in life. This study offers hope for prevention through targeted, modifiable behaviors.

To explore how lifestyle could mitigate this risk, researchers analyzed data from more than 4,300 women enrolled in the long-term Nurses’ Health Study II cohort. All participants had a history of gestational diabetes mellitus but were free from cardiovascular disease and diabetes at the start of the study.

The team focused on five lifestyle factors: maintaining a healthy weight, not smoking, engaging in regular physical activity, consuming a high-quality diet, and practicing moderate alcohol intake. The results were striking: women who consistently adopted all five healthy habits experienced an 86% lower risk of cardiovascular events compared to those who did not follow any.

Among women who consistently followed all five optimal lifestyle factors, no cardiovascular events were observed over nearly 28 years of follow-up.

These findings highlight the critical importance of early and sustained lifestyle interventions for women, especially those with a history of Gestational diabetes mellitus.

"Our findings suggest that CVD is not an inevitable outcome for women with a history of gestational diabetes," said Dr. Yang Jiaxi, Senior Research Fellow at the Global Center for Asian Women's Health (GloW), NUS Medicine, and co-first author of the study. "Even modest lifestyle improvements after pregnancy can significantly reduce future heart risk."

Reference: Frank Qian et al, Long‐Term Adherence to Modifiable Factors and Incident Cardiovascular Disease Among Women With a History of Gestational Diabetes: A Prospective Cohort Study, Journal of the American Heart Association (2025). DOI: 10.1161/JAHA.124.038936