The pregnant woman suffering due to gestational diabetics is at a greater risk for developing the type two later in her life as per research. Gestational diabetes in infants (LGA) is a different reason. Nearly 90% of newborns with similar gestational age have been classified as LGA. LGA babies are at a higher risk of being admitted to the intensive care unit for neonatal and suffer later health issues like obesity or Type 2 Diabetes. However, what hasn’t been researched but is whether a woman who is not suffering from gestational diabetes, but is born to an LGA baby also is susceptible to developing diabetes later on in life.
In a latest research that is going to be presented today at annual meeting of (SMFM) researchers will present the findings that Pregnant women without diabetes who have a large-for-gestational-age infant are more likely to acquire prediabetes or Type 2 diabetes 10-14 years later in there life.
The study drew on data from the Hyperglycemia and Adverse Pregnancy Outcomes (HAPO) Follow-up study. HAPO is an observational research that investigated glucose tolerance in a broad multinational, multiethnic, and heterogeneous population of pregnant women during the third trimester. A further study looked at the link between gestational diabetes and long-term health consequences for pregnant mothers and their babies.
The data showed that between 10 and 14 years after the birth. 20 percent (791 individuals) of them were classified as diabetics or prediabetics and that the prevalence of prediabetes and diabetes was higher for those who were born with the LGA birth (24.8 percent) as compared to those with the SGA birth (15.4 percent) or, more significantly people who were born with the AGA birth (19.7 percent). The higher risk of developing diabetes and prediabetes in an LGA baby was evident regardless of whether researchers examined risk factors that could lead to the development of Type 2 diabetes, such as age obesity, and high blood pressure and relatives with diabetes history.
Karthik K. Venkatesh, MD, PhD, the study’s lead author, says, “When we meet older children in clinical practise and the individual does not have gestational diabetes, we can often anticipate health consequences for the mother later in life. Don’t bring up the results, “said Dr., a maternal-fetal medicine subspecialist and assistant professor of obstetrics and gynaecology as well as epidemiology at Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center in Columbus. “Yet, this study suggests that when a pregnant woman’s baby is bigger than average, even if she does not have gestational diabetes, there may be health repercussions. Therefore keep an eye out for bigger gatherings of people and their babies.” It is essential to do this over a long time regardless of whether the mother has gestational diabetes or not.
“The important takeaway from this study is that it’s time to stop thinking about pregnancy care in terms of episodes. Instead, we should establish links between pregnancies and long-term consequences for both women and children. This will enable us to view the big picture.” (ANI).