(representative image)
A new study has provided further evidence that maternal diabetes is linked with a higher risk of neurodevelopmental issues, including ADHD and other intellectual disabilities, in children.
Published in the journal Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology on Monday, the study adds to a growing body of evidence that ties maternal diabetes to a range of health complications for both the mother and the child.
Also Read | What The Health Ministry Revealed About Breast Cancer Initiatives In India
Experts observed that while the findings describe only a correlation, the data highlighted the need for early treatments of diabetes, a condition that is becoming more common worldwide.
The analysis included data from 202 studies on over 56 million pregnancies across the world. It examined the results for children whose mothers had Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes while pregnant or were diagnosed with gestational diabetes, collectively known as “maternal diabetes”.
The risks for children of mothers with diabetes during pregnancy were 25 per cent higher for autism, 30 per cent higher for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, and 32 per cent higher for intellectual disability. They were also 20 per cent higher for trouble with communication, 17 per cent higher for movement problems and 16 per cent higher for learning disorders than in children whose mothers did not have diabetes while pregnant.
The study also found that Type 1 diabetes, an autoimmune condition, may increase inflammation in children, correlating with increased risk of autism and ADHD. Maternal diabetes can also affect how genes are expressed and could cause changes that affect brain function.
Also Read | Indian Hepatologist Questions Bryan Johnson’s Anti-Ageing Project
Having gestational diabetes for a longer period of time or having gestational diabetes severe enough to warrant medication also increased the risk.
The American Diabetes Association recommends pregnant patients with diabetes receive nutrition counseling that promotes a diet of whole grains, lean protein and fresh fruits and vegetables.
What’s next? Experts wonder whether getting blood sugar under control could cut these potential risks. Many observed that the study points to the need for comprehensive diabetes screening among young women in their 20s and 30s.
