Can phthalates from plastic products raise diabetes risk during pregnancy?

What's actually in it

Phthalates are plasticizers added to soft plastics to make them flexible. They're in vinyl food packaging, fragrance products, personal care items, and flexible plastic wrap. Bisphenols are hardeners in rigid plastics and can linings. Both chemicals interfere with insulin signaling and pancreatic function.

During pregnancy, blood sugar regulation already works harder. Adding hormone-disrupting chemicals into the mix may tip the balance.

What the research says

A 2026 birth cohort study in J Endocr Soc measured urinary phthalate and bisphenol levels in pregnant women and tracked gestational diabetes diagnoses. Women with higher phthalate and bisphenol exposure had higher rates of gestational diabetes. The association held after controlling for diet, BMI, and other risk factors.

Phthalates and bisphenols don't stay in the body long individually, but most people have constant low-level exposure from multiple sources every day. The cumulative effect is what matters.

Cutting plastic food contact is one of the most direct ways to reduce exposure. Glass food storage eliminates the main dietary route for both phthalates and bisphenols.