diabetes and pregnancy, and developmental disorders in children

The relationship between maternal diabetes during pregnancy and neurodevelopmental disorders in children:

Does diabetes during pregnancy increase the risk of neurodevelopmental disorders in the unborn child? The team of pediatricians and neurologists from the National Cheng Kung University Hospital (Taiwan) reveals, in the journal Developmental Medicine & Child Neurology, a link between maternal diabetes during pregnancy and a whole range of neurodevelopmental disorders in children.

Health disorders:

This link is found in particular with autism, attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), developmental delays, intellectual disability, cerebral palsy and epilepsy. This link is more marked with type 1 diabetes, then with type 2, then with gestational diabetes.

The effect of diabetes on fetal brain development in the womb:

The retrospective study is conducted among 877,233 children born between 2004 and 2008 whose mothers had type 1, type 2 or gestational diabetes during pregnancy. The analysis reveals that:

• in utero 338 babies (0.04%) were exposed to type 1 diabetes, 8,749 (1%) to type 2 diabetes;
• maternal type 1 diabetes is associated with an increased risk of developmental delay, intellectual disability and epilepsy in children;
• maternal type 2 diabetes is associated with an increased risk of autism spectrum disorder (ASD), ADHD, developmental delay, intellectual disability, cerebral palsy and epilepsy;
• Finally, gestational diabetes is associated with an increased risk of autism spectrum disorder, ADHD and developmental delay.

Diabetes therefore impacts the development of the brain of the fetus in the womb.

“Mechanistic studies are needed to explore how maternal conditions, beyond diabetes, can impact child development,” the researchers conclude.