Diabetes Risk in Kids During Pregnancy

Prenatal

oi-Religare

By Religare

Wednesday, June 23, 2010, 18:02

Pregnancy is a very delicate state of health. During this time women are advised to take good care of themselves. A new study says that pregnant mothers who have high blood glucose will lead their kids to low insulin sensitivity which is a risk factor for type 2 diabetes.

"We know that children born to women with type 2 diabetes or gestational diabetes, or who have high blood sugar during pregnancy are at risk of becoming diabetic themselves. This study suggests that the childrens' increased risk appears to be due, at least in part, to their prenatal exposure to relatively high maternal blood glucose," said study co-author Paula Chandler-Laney, a post doctoral fellow at the University of Alabama at Birmingham.

Chandler-Laney and her colleagues did a research on 21 children between an age of 5 to 10 years and tested the childrens' sensitivity to insulin, the hormone that regulates sugar in the blood.

They further checked the medical records of mothers of the children to look into maternal blood sugar concentration during the oral glucose tolerance test.

At this the experts discovered there was a reverse formation between blood sugar of the mother and the child. Which means higher the mother's blood sugar levels during pregnancy lesser was her child's insulin sensitivity, which is a major risk factor for type 2 diabetes.

Obesity lowers insulin sensitivity, but the child's reduced insulin sensitivity was independent of their amount of body fat, the authors reported.

In addition, children with high blood sugar levels, while they are in the womb, will have exaggerated insulin secretion after a meal , independent of their reduced insulin sensitivity. Apparently high insulin secretion is also associated with increased risk for later development of type 2 diabetes, Chandler-Laney explained.

In the beginning children do not high blood sugar but at the time puberty insulin sensitivity will reduce, she noted.

"High maternal blood glucose during pregnancy may have lasting effects on childrens' insulin sensitivity and secretion, potentially raising the risk for type 2 diabetes," Chandler-Laney said.

"Obstetricians, pediatricians, and pregnant women should all be aware of the potential far-reaching consequences that elevated blood sugar during pregnancy can have on childrens' health," added Chandler-Laney.

Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is for general informational and educational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or a qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.