Can triclosan in antibacterial soap cause gestational diabetes during pregnancy?

What's actually in it

Triclosan is an antibacterial chemical that was widely used in hand soaps, body washes, toothpaste, and cutting boards. The FDA banned it from consumer hand soaps in 2016, but it's still allowed in some toothpastes, hand sanitizers, and hospital-grade products. It also lingers in household dust and contaminated water. Even with the partial ban, most people still have measurable triclosan in their urine.

What the research says

A 2026 study in Ecotoxicol Environ Saf used advanced molecular analysis to figure out exactly how triclosan causes gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). The researchers identified the key targets triclosan attacks in the body and mapped the biological chain reaction it triggers.

Triclosan disrupted multiple pathways that control blood sugar, including insulin signaling and glucose uptake by cells. It also triggered inflammation and oxidative stress in tissues responsible for metabolic regulation. The combination of these effects pushed pregnant women toward the insulin resistance that defines gestational diabetes.

GDM puts both mother and baby at risk. Mothers face a higher chance of developing type 2 diabetes later in life. Babies born to mothers with GDM are more likely to be oversized at birth, have low blood sugar after delivery, and develop obesity and diabetes themselves as they grow up.

Check your toothpaste and any remaining antibacterial products for triclosan on the label. Plain soap and water works just as well for hand washing. For toothpaste, many fluoride options skip triclosan entirely.