Maternity care costs for pregnant women who develop gestational diabetes are more than 30% higher than average, a new study has shown.

Gestational diabetes is a type of diabetes that develops during pregnancy - most often in the second or third trimester. It usually disappears after the baby is born. The condition, which currently affects around 12% of pregnancies in Ireland, is more common in women who are overweight or obese.

It is already known that gestational diabetes can have serious health consequences for both women and their babies. For example, it can increase the risk of premature births and pre-eclampsia (high blood pressure in pregnant women).

Women who develop the condition are also significantly more likely to go on to develop type 2 diabetes.

However, this marks the first time the financial impact of gestational diabetes in Ireland has been studied.

Researchers from NUI Galway looked at the maternity costs relating to almost 4,500 pregnant women in Ireland. They found that those with gestational diabetes were almost twice as likely to require an emergency Caesarean section, while their babies were three times more likely to require care in a neonatal unit.

Overall, maternity care costs were 34% higher for these women.

According to study author, Dr Paddy Gillespie of NUI Galway, this condition is ‘placing a substantial economic burden on maternity care costs'.

"This burden is likely to rise in the future if current practices remain unchanged given projected increases in gestational diabetes prevalence rates," he said.

However, the study also revealed that major cost savings could be made if interventions, such as universal screening, were put in place to prevent the onset of the condition in pregnancy.

According to study co-author, Prof Fidelma Dunne of NUI Galway, the cost of such interventions could be offset by a fall in the number of women requiring such costly care.

"Ireland needs to introduce universal screening of women in pregnancy for gestational diabetes, rather than the current approach of selective screening.

"We also need to look at lifestyle interventions and educating women about vitamin supplements, diet and exercise through their antenatal centres and GPs," she explained.

The study was funded by the Health Research Board.