Objective: To evaluate for the metabolic syndrome (MS) in offspring of women with family history of early onset type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) who developed gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) using as controls offspring of women with no family history of diabetes and normal glucose tolerance (NGT). Methods: Anthropometric and biochemical measurements were evaluated for 30 offspring age 10-16 years of women with family history of early onset T2DM who developed GDM. Obstetrical records of these mothers were also noted. Thirty offspring of women (30) with NGT and no family history of diabetes served as controls. Measurements included: Total cholesterol (TC), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), triglyceride (TG), fasting and postprandial glucose, insulin, waist circumference, weight and height. For analyses, MS was defined as ≥3 of 4 features: glucose intolerance, dyslipidemia, obesity and hypertension in the childhood/adolescence criteria as recommended by the National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel Third (NCEP-ATP III) modified standard. Cox regression analysis was used to determine the independent hazard (risk) of developing MS attributable to GDM with a family history of early onset T2DM. Results: Offspring of women with GDM and family history of early onset T2DM had significantly more (≥ 2, p<0.05) features of MS than offspring of women with NGT and no family history of diabetes. Thirty percent (30.0%), 29.5% and 39.0% of the offspring of these GDM women had glucose intolerance, obesity and dyslipidemia respectively. These offspring had a hazard of 3.33 (95% CI: 2.12-9.15) of having MS compared to offspring of women with NGT and no family history of diabetes. Conclusion: Offspring of women with GDM and family history of early onset T2DM are at increased risk for MS.

early onset type 2 diabetes, offspring, gestational diabetes