GESTATIONAL DIABETES MELLITUS A PREDICTOR OF POSTPARTUM DEPRESSION: AN INTEGRATIVE EVIDENCE REVIEW

Abstract

Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and postpartum depression (PPD) are among the most frequent complications of the perinatal period. Growing evidences suggests that GDM may represent an independent risk factor for subsequent depressive symptoms. However, recent cohort studies and meta-analyses consistently demonstrate an increased likelihood of postpartum depression in women with gestational diabetes mellitus compared with those without, although reported effect sizes range from modest to substantial depending on study design, timing of assessment, and adjustment for confounding variables such as pre-pregnancy mental health, body-mass index, and sociodemographic characteristics. Biological mechanisms linking gestational diabetes mellitus to postpartum depression include insulin resistance, systemic inflammation, and hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis alterations, while psychosocial contributors encompass the stress of a chronic pregnancy complication, concerns about infant health, and heightened caregiving burden. Despite heterogeneity across studies, the overall evidence supports a clinically relevant association underscoring the importance of integrating targeted mental health screening and surveillance into routine care for women diagnosed with gestational diabetes mellitus. Future investigations should incorporate standardized diagnostic frameworks, rigorously designed prospective cohorts, and integrative biomarker-based methodologies to elucidate mechanistic pathways and delineate high-risk subpopulations most amenable to targeted preventive interventions.