For a developing fetus the hormonal and metabolic environment in utero is a major factor in setting the stage for either robust health or compromised wellness in childhood and later in life. Influenced by diet sleep stress management and more the biochemical signals that shape the fetal landscape can predispose a child to obesity metabolic syndrome and other conditions associated with impaired glucose handling and even cardiovascular complications.

But new research suggests that gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) doesn’t just predispose an infant to health complications in adolescence and beyond. The fathers of these children may also be headed toward issues related to insulin resistance and carbohydrate intolerance. While a developing fetus is at the mercy of its mother’s internal environment it’s the external influences that likely play a role in the father’s health.

A study out of Canada’s McGill University Health Center published in the journal Diabetes Care followed a retrospective cohort of 70890 fathers 50% of whose partners had GDM. During a mean of 13 years of follow-up diabetes incidence was 4.01 per 1000 person-years (95% CI 3.83 4.20) in fathers whose partners were diagnosed with GDM and 3.03 per 1000 person-years (95% CI 2.87 3.19) in fathers whose partners did not develop the condition. Total diabetes incidence included 1838 fathers with partners with GDM versus 1397 fathers whose partners did not have GDM (5.2% vs. 3.9%). Regression analysis used in the study indicated that incidence of diabetes was 33% higher among fathers whose partners had GDM.

This is not altogether surprising. The simple explanation is “birds of a feather flock together.” The more scientific explanation is that people who occupy the same household tend to have similar dietary sleep and exercise patterns which means reinforcing healthy habits but also potentially enabling unhealthy ones. Over 90% of the fathers included in the study lived with their partners and over 90% also shared the same ethno-cultural background. More fathers with partners with GDM lived in socioeconomically disadvantaged areas compared to fathers whose partners did not have GDM (43.3% vs. 37.3% respectively) and a higher percentage were of non-European ethnic descent (23.3% vs. 18.1%). More of the mothers with GDM had prior pregnancies (57%) compared to those without GDM (28%). A diagnosis of GDM in women with prior pregnancies may be a reflection of slightly older maternal age although those details are not provided in the study. Regarding the fathers’ age however most were under 40 years old at baseline. (Exact numbers are not specified.)

Obviously there is no direct physical link between the maternal environment and a father’s capacity to effectively metabolize glucose. Gestational diabetes in mothers certainly doesn’t cause type 2 diabetes in fathers. However as the McGill study authors suggest a mother receiving a GDM diagnosis could serve as a wakeup call for fathers or partners who might be at risk for developing diabetes or other health conditions stemming from poor diet and other lifestyle factors.

The good news is it seems that any improved management of blood sugar during pregnancy may have beneficial effects on the long-term cardio-metabolic health of the offspring. Compared to offspring of mothers with GDM offspring of mothers with impaired glucose tolerance a milder form of poor blood glucose regulation had lower body mass indices and plasma insulin levels. Additionally gestational diabetes that is well-controlled through diet may result in offspring that are no more likely to develop obesity than children of mothers who exhibited no signs of impaired glucose metabolism. 

The best strategy whether for GDM type 2 diabetes or simply protecting overall metabolic health is adequate sleep good stress management regular exercise and a diet based on whole foods with quality proteins natural fats abundant vegetables and carbohydrate-rich foods tailored to one’s metabolic constitution physical activities and individual level of tolerance.