Objective To explore influencing factors of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and analyze its association with dietary iron intake in the early trimester of pregnancy. Methods A total of 1,094 pregnant women with regular pregnancy check-ups were selected as the study subjects. The multivariate logistic regression model was used to analyze the influencing factors of GDM. Pearson correlation analysis was used to study the association between the occurrence of GDM and dietary iron intake in the early trimester of pregnancy. Results Among the 1,094 pregnant women, 189 (17.28%) were diagnosed with GDM. The results of multivariate logistic regression model analysis showed that age ≥ 35 years, pre-pregnancy menstrual cycle disorder, unbalanced dietary structure, and high dietary iron intake and high triglyceride level in the early trimester of pregnancy were risk factors of GDM in pregnant women (all P<0.05). The risk of GDM was positively correlated with dietary iron intake in the early trimester of pregnancy (r=0.537, P<0.001). Conclusion Age ≥ 35 years, pre-pregnancy menstrual cycle disorder, unbalanced dietary structure, and high dietary iron intake and high triglyceride level in the early trimester of pregnancy are risk factors of GDM in pregnant women, and the risk of GDM is positively correlated with dietary iron intake in women in the early trimester of pregnancy.