Review article
Metabolic syndrome in pregnant women with gestational diabetes mellitus

Until recently, metabolic syndrome, due to its basic criterion, i.e. abdominal obesity, was associated with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Currently there are reports concerning metabolic syndrome also in patients with diabetes type 1 as well as single reports on the occurrence of this syndrome in women with gestational diabetes. Among gestational diabetes risk factors there are: family history of diabetes, age over 25, multiparity, gestational diabetes in previous pregnancies, macrosomia in previously born babies or in the present pregnancy, hydramnion, significant and rapid body weight increase during pregnancy, particularly overweight or obesity – the main factors in metabolic syndrome. In turn, past gestational diabetes is a risk factor for the onset of type 2 diabetes, more rarely of type 1 diabetes, in future. In the group of women with family history of diabetes the presence of metabolic syndrome features is found three times more often, which is a risk factor for cardio-vascular diseases; therefore, the aim of the present work is to review current reports on possible connections between metabolic syndrome and gestational diabetes