Why is diabetes in pregnancy a concern?
The mother’s excess amounts of blood glucose are transferred to the fetus during pregnancy. This causes the baby’s body to secrete increased amounts of insulin, which results in increased tissue and fat deposits. The infant of a diabetic mother (IDM) is often larger than expected for the gestational age. The infant of a diabetic mother may have higher risks for serious problems during pregnancy and at birth. Problems during pregnancy may include increased risk of birth defects and stillbirth. It is thought that poor control of blood glucose is linked to the development of congenital abnormalities. These may include abnormalities in the formation of the heart, brain spinal cord, urinary tract, and gastrointestinal system. Unlike insulin-dependent diabetes, gestational diabetes generally does not cause birth defects. Birth defects usually originate sometime during the first trimester (before the 13th week) of pregnancy. But, the insulin resistance from the contra-insulin hormones produce