High blood sugar during pregnancy elevates risk of diabetes in kids--study

Co-author of the study, Paula Chandler-Laney, a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Alabama at Birmingham stated, "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 children’s increased risk appears to be due, at least in part, to their prenatal exposure to relatively high maternal blood glucose.”

Details of the study
In a bid to determine whether high blood sugar during pregnancy raises the risk of diabetes in kids, the researchers conducted a study.

They recruited 21 children aged five to 10 years and measured their insulin resistance. Insulin is a hormone that maintains glucose levels at a steady rate.

As a part of the study, the scientists also checked the medical records of mothers of the children to get a clear picture of the maternal blood sugar concentration during the oral glucose tolerance test.

Findings of the study
A reverse formation between blood sugar of the mother and the child was discovered. In other words, the more elevated the blood sugar of the mother during pregnancy, the lesser was her child's insulin sensitivity.

This failure to respond to insulin constitutes a major risk factor for type 2 diabetes.

Although the most common physical consequence of obesity is the development of insulin resistance, the researchers noted that the reduced insulin sensitivity in the subjects was not related to the amount of fat stored in their body.

Explaining the risk further, the experts stated that children in contact with high blood sugar levels while they are in the womb will have more insulin secretion after a meal.

Though high insulin secretion is not connected to the resistance of the hormone, it can pose as a potential risk for the development of type 2diabetes later on.

Initially, the children do not exhibit high blood sugar, but the chances are that insulin sensitivity will reduce at the time of puberty.

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

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

The results were presented at The Endocrine Society's 92nd Annual Meeting in San Diego.