A new study published online by Kaiser Permanente Research Division shows how women of all ages who gain weight after pregnancy are more likely to develop diabetes on their next pregnancy. The study was published in the online journal „Obstetrics and Gynecology” and it was conducted by a team of researchers under the lead of Samantha Ehrlich.

After examining the medical records of more than 20 thousand Kaiser Permanente patients, all mothers who had 2 babies at the Kaiser Permanente facilities, the researchers noted that there is an increased risk of springing up diabetes on the second pregnancy and that the risk is strictly correlated with the amount of body weight acquired after the previous pregnancy.

When compared to a woman that doesn’t gain weight at all after the first pregnancy, gaining around 10 pounds in weight is going to double the risk of developing diabetes during the second pregnancy and when gaining more than 15 pounds the chances of developing diabetes are four times higher than those of a woman that maintains her body mass index at same value after the first pregnancy.

On the positive side, the study shows that losing weight after the first pregnancy is an excellent way to prevent the developing of diabetes later on during a second pregnancy. Losing 5 or 10 pounds after the first pregnancy helps moms stay away from diabetes during the second pregnancy. After losing more than 10 pounds a woman is close to 80% less likely to develop diabetes during the second pregnancy.

Overweight or obese women are advised to lose weight after their first baby and all other women should try and go back to normal weight after giving birth to a baby.