A study found that the child of a mother diagnosed with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) has a 30% higher probability of developing childhood mental and developmental disorders such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and autism compared to other children. Experts assessed this as a confirmation of the importance of early screening and treatment for diabetes during pregnancy.
Researchers from Zhongnan University’s Xiangya Hospital announced on the 8th in the international journal 'The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology' that 'research results supporting the association between gestational diabetes and the risk of brain and nervous system disorders in children have emerged.'
The research team analyzed data from more than 56 million pregnancies worldwide. They selected 202 cases of mothers who had diabetes type 1 or type 2 before pregnancy or were diagnosed with gestational diabetes and analyzed whether brain or nervous system problems occurred in their children later.
Gestational diabetes, which occurs during pregnancy due to abnormal blood sugar levels, affects 5% of all pregnant women. It occurs when hormones secreted from the placenta impair insulin function, making blood sugar control difficult. Women with gestational diabetes may face health problems such as preterm delivery and miscarriage. Since gestational diabetes is mostly asymptomatic, early testing is important.
As a result of the analysis, children of women diagnosed with gestational diabetes had a 28% higher probability of having neurodevelopmental issues compared to other children. Among the neurodevelopmental symptoms, the incidence of intellectual disabilities was the highest at 32%, followed by ADHD at 30%, and autism at 25%.
In more dangerous cases, the mothers were diagnosed with diabetes before pregnancy. The researchers stated that the risk of neurodevelopmental disorders in the children of mothers diagnosed with gestational diabetes was 39% higher.
Research findings have previously been published indicating that diabetes (type 1 and type 2) before pregnancy and gestational diabetes can affect fetal neurodevelopment. There is also a hypothesis that maternal hyperglycemia can induce oxidative stress in the fetal brain and increase inflammatory responses, hindering the development of neural cells.
However, the researchers noted that more studies are needed to clarify the relationship between maternal hyperglycemia levels and fetal neurodevelopment. Fangkun Liu, a professor in the neurology department at Zhongnan University, said, 'Just because a mother is diagnosed with gestational diabetes does not mean that all children will experience developmental issues, and a mother's diabetes cannot be a direct cause of her child's developmental disorders.' They emphasized the need for research to find the clear association and reasons between maternal diabetes and neurodevelopmental issues.
Experts emphasized the importance of diabetes management for women planning pregnancy or pregnant mothers, as managing blood sugar during pregnancy can reduce health risks to the child.
Elizabeth Halprin, a specialist at the Joslin Diabetes Center in the U.S., stated, 'It is a known fact in the medical community that there is a correlation between maternal glucose level increases during pregnancy and future neurodevelopmental disorders in children.' She added that 'by managing diet, blood sugar, and exercise, the impact on the fetus can be significantly reduced.'
References
The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology (2025), DOI: www.doi.org/10.1016/S2213-8587(25)00036-1