Risk factors for GDM. Several risk factors are associated with the development of GDM. The most common risk factors are; obesity, older maternal age, past history of GDM, strong family history of diabetes, member of an ethnic group with a high prevalence of T2DM, polycystic ovary syndrome, and persistent glucosuria. A history of delivering big baby (birth weight ≥4000 g), history of recurrent abortions, and history of unexplained stillbirths, and history of essential hypertension, or pregnancy-related hypertension are other risk factors for GDM.