Strengths of this study include use of a large cohort of nurses with detailed information on both pregnancy history and
diabetes and information on pre-pregnancy and reproductive risk factors for diabetes. We were also able to control for
GDM and HDOP as strong predictors of T2DM. In addition, this study had an average follow-up time after first birth of
22 years, which allowed for sufficient time for a substantial proportion of participants to develop the disease
(approximately 4% of the population). Furthermore, we were able to explore these research questions by using
different cut points in total study time. This technique allowed us to explore periods in which certain pregnancy
complications may have the most predictive value for future development of T2DM. Future studies are needed to
further explore and confirm these associations based on time since pregnancy.