Gestational diabetes affects approximately 23% of pregnant women in Vietnam and occurs at even higher rates among Vietnamese women living abroad, according to a comprehensive review of 76 studies. Risk factors include advanced maternal age, higher pre-pregnancy weight, family history of diabetes, poor diet, and physical inactivity. Many Vietnamese pregnant women lack knowledge about this condition, which can cause serious complications for both mother and baby, yet most research has been hospital-based rather than community-focused, leaving significant gaps in understanding how to prevent and manage it effectively in this population.
A comprehensive review of 76 studies shows that gestational diabetes, a type of diabetes that develops during pregnancy, affects about 23% of pregnant women in Vietnam and is even more common among Vietnamese women living abroad. According to Gram Research analysis, this condition poses serious health risks for both mothers and babies, yet many pregnant women don’t know enough about it to prevent it. The review found that older age, higher weight before pregnancy, family history, poor diet, and lack of exercise increase the risk. Researchers identified major gaps in how this condition is studied and managed, especially in communities outside hospitals, and called for better screening methods and prevention programs tailored to Vietnamese women’s needs.
Key Statistics
A 2026 scoping review of 76 studies found that gestational diabetes affects approximately 23% of pregnant women in Vietnam, with Vietnamese women living abroad experiencing even higher prevalence rates compared to local populations in their host countries.
According to the 2026 scoping review analyzing gestational diabetes in Vietnamese populations, consistent risk factors included advanced maternal age, higher pre-pregnancy body mass index, family history of diabetes, and lifestyle factors such as poor diet and physical inactivity.
The 2026 scoping review identified that limited maternal knowledge about gestational diabetes prevention and management was a significant barrier across Vietnamese populations, with most existing research conducted in hospital settings rather than community-based environments.
The Quick Take
- What they studied: How common gestational diabetes is among Vietnamese women in Vietnam and Vietnamese women living in other countries, what causes it, and how well it’s being managed and studied.
- Who participated: The review analyzed 76 published studies from 2010 to 2025 that included pregnant Vietnamese women in Vietnam and Vietnamese women living in other countries. The studies varied widely in size and quality.
- Key finding: About 23 out of every 100 pregnant women in Vietnam develop gestational diabetes, and Vietnamese women living abroad have even higher rates than local women in their countries. Many pregnant women don’t know enough about this condition to prevent it.
- What it means for you: If you are Vietnamese or of Vietnamese descent and planning pregnancy, understanding your risk factors like age, weight, and family history can help you take steps to prevent gestational diabetes. Talk to your doctor about screening and lifestyle changes, though more research is needed on what prevention methods work best for Vietnamese women specifically.
The Research Details
This scoping review is like a comprehensive map of all available research on gestational diabetes in Vietnamese women. The researchers searched through medical databases, Vietnamese language repositories, and other sources to find all studies published between 2010 and November 2025 that looked at this topic. They included 76 studies total and organized the information they found by themes like how common the condition is, what causes it, and what health problems it causes.
A scoping review is different from a regular research study because it doesn’t test something new. Instead, it gathers and summarizes what other researchers have already discovered. Think of it like collecting all the puzzle pieces that exist about a topic and laying them out to see the big picture and identify which pieces are missing.
The researchers followed strict international guidelines for doing this type of review to make sure they didn’t miss important studies and that they organized the information fairly and accurately.
This approach matters because gestational diabetes in Vietnamese women hasn’t been studied in one organized way before. By bringing together all the research from both Vietnam and countries where Vietnamese people have moved, the researchers could see patterns that individual studies might miss. They could also identify where research is weak or missing, which helps doctors and public health officials know what to focus on next.
The review followed international standards for scoping reviews, which makes it reliable. However, the individual studies it reviewed varied a lot in quality and how they measured gestational diabetes. Most studies were done in hospitals rather than in communities, which means they might not represent all pregnant women. The researchers noted that studies in Vietnamese diaspora communities often only looked at how common the condition was without testing whether prevention programs actually work.
What the Results Show
The review found that gestational diabetes affects about 23 out of every 100 pregnant women in Vietnam, though this number varied between 2010 and 2024. This is a significant public health problem. Vietnamese women living in other countries have even higher rates of gestational diabetes compared to women from the local population in those countries, which suggests that being Vietnamese or of Vietnamese descent may increase risk.
The research identified five main risk factors that appear consistently across studies: being older when pregnant, having a higher weight before pregnancy, having a family history of diabetes, having had diabetes or pregnancy complications before, and lifestyle factors like poor diet and not exercising enough. These risk factors are similar to those in other populations, but they may affect Vietnamese women differently.
A concerning finding was that many pregnant Vietnamese women don’t know enough about gestational diabetes to recognize their risk or take steps to prevent it. When gestational diabetes does develop, it leads to serious problems including larger babies at birth, which can cause complications during delivery, and increased health risks for mothers after pregnancy.
The review also found that babies born to mothers with gestational diabetes tend to weigh more than average, which can cause problems during birth. Mothers with gestational diabetes have higher rates of complications during and after pregnancy. Additionally, the research showed that most studies about gestational diabetes in Vietnamese women were conducted in hospitals, which means they may not represent all pregnant women in the community. Studies of Vietnamese women living abroad focused mainly on how common the condition was but rarely tested whether prevention or treatment programs actually work.
This is the first comprehensive review bringing together all research on gestational diabetes in Vietnamese women from both Vietnam and diaspora communities. Previous research was scattered and didn’t provide a complete picture. The findings confirm that gestational diabetes is a growing problem in Vietnamese populations, similar to trends in other Asian populations, but Vietnamese women may face unique challenges including language barriers, cultural differences in diet and exercise, and limited access to culturally appropriate care.
The studies reviewed were very different from each other in how they measured gestational diabetes and who they included, making it hard to compare results. Most research was done in hospitals, so it may not represent all pregnant women. Studies of Vietnamese women living in other countries rarely tested whether prevention programs work. The review only included studies published in English or Vietnamese, so some research in other languages may have been missed. The researchers couldn’t analyze all the data together statistically because the studies were too different from each other.
The Bottom Line
Pregnant Vietnamese women and those planning pregnancy should know their risk factors, especially if they are over 30, overweight, have a family history of diabetes, or have had gestational diabetes before. Work with your doctor on regular screening during pregnancy. Focus on healthy eating and regular physical activity before and during pregnancy. These lifestyle changes have strong evidence for preventing gestational diabetes in many populations, though more research is needed specifically for Vietnamese women. Moderate confidence: More research is needed to know which prevention methods work best for Vietnamese women specifically.
Vietnamese women planning pregnancy or currently pregnant should care about this research. Healthcare providers serving Vietnamese communities should use this information to improve screening and education. Public health officials in Vietnam and countries with large Vietnamese populations should prioritize gestational diabetes prevention programs. Women with risk factors like advanced maternal age, higher weight, or family history of diabetes should be especially attentive. This research is less directly relevant to non-Vietnamese populations, though some findings may apply to other Asian groups.
Lifestyle changes like improved diet and exercise can reduce gestational diabetes risk before pregnancy. If you’re already pregnant, screening typically happens between weeks 24 and 28 of pregnancy. If gestational diabetes is diagnosed, managing blood sugar during pregnancy can prevent complications. After pregnancy, it takes several months to a year to return to normal weight and metabolism, and ongoing healthy habits help prevent type 2 diabetes later in life.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is gestational diabetes and why is it more common in Vietnamese women?
Gestational diabetes is diabetes that develops during pregnancy and usually goes away after birth. It affects about 23% of pregnant women in Vietnam and even more Vietnamese women living abroad. Research shows Vietnamese women may have higher risk due to genetic factors, lifestyle changes after migration, and limited access to preventive care.
What are the main risk factors for gestational diabetes in Vietnamese women?
Key risk factors include being older than 30 when pregnant, having higher weight before pregnancy, family history of diabetes, previous gestational diabetes or pregnancy complications, poor diet quality, and physical inactivity. Vietnamese women with these factors should discuss screening with their doctor.
Can gestational diabetes be prevented in Vietnamese women?
Lifestyle changes like regular exercise (150 minutes weekly), healthy eating with more vegetables and whole grains, and maintaining healthy weight before pregnancy can reduce risk. However, research specifically testing prevention programs in Vietnamese women is limited, so more studies are needed.
What happens to babies born to mothers with gestational diabetes?
Babies tend to be larger than average, which can cause complications during birth. After birth, these babies have higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes and obesity later in life. Managing blood sugar during pregnancy reduces these risks significantly.
Why do Vietnamese women living in other countries have higher gestational diabetes rates?
Vietnamese diaspora populations show higher rates than local populations in their host countries. This may be due to genetic predisposition, dietary changes after migration, reduced physical activity, limited access to culturally appropriate healthcare, and language barriers to preventive services.
Want to Apply This Research?
- Track weekly physical activity minutes (goal: 150 minutes moderate activity), daily servings of vegetables and whole grains, and pre-pregnancy weight if planning pregnancy. Log these metrics weekly to identify patterns and motivation.
- Set a specific goal like ‘walk 30 minutes, 5 days per week’ or ‘add one vegetable serving to each meal.’ Use the app to set reminders for these activities and log completion daily. If pregnant, use the app to track screening appointment dates and blood sugar readings if gestational diabetes is diagnosed.
- For women planning pregnancy: track weight, diet quality, and exercise for 3 months before conception. For pregnant women: log screening test dates and results, monitor weight gain against pregnancy guidelines, and track diet and exercise throughout pregnancy. After pregnancy: continue monitoring weight, diet, and exercise for at least one year, and schedule annual diabetes screening if gestational diabetes was diagnosed.
This article summarizes research findings and is not medical advice. Gestational diabetes is a serious condition requiring professional medical care. If you are pregnant or planning pregnancy, especially if you have risk factors like advanced maternal age, higher weight, or family history of diabetes, consult your healthcare provider about screening and prevention strategies. This review identifies research gaps and calls for more studies, meaning some prevention and treatment approaches may not yet be fully proven for Vietnamese women specifically. Always follow your doctor’s recommendations for screening, monitoring, and management during pregnancy.
This research translation is published by Gram Research, the science division of Gram, an AI-powered nutrition tracking app.