Gestational Diabetes

A Sweet Mamma Can Lead to Childhood Obesity

Gestational diabetes is a form of diabetes that occurs during pregnancy. Babies whose mothers had untreated gestational diabetes have almost double the risk of childhood obesity. However, if the mother’s blood sugars are treated, then the risk to the child is decreased.

The high blood sugar levels of a mother with gestational diabetes causes the baby to be exposed to these same levels in the womb, or simply put, the foetus is being overfed.

This new study by researchers at the Centre for Health Research in Oregon supports the similar findings of previous studies.

A 2000 study of the association between cod liver oil or vitamin D supplements and the risk of type one diabetes in offspring found that when mothers took cod liver oil during pregnancy, the risks for their offspring were reduced. However, supplementing the child with cod liver oil or vitamin D during the first year of life did not reduce risk.

Evidently, treating the pregnant mother is more effective than trying to treat the child.

This highlights the need for good preconception and prenatal care. Ensuring optimal health for the mother prior to falling pregnant, and during the pregnancy, can reduce the risk of diabetes in later life as well as limiting other risk factors such as:

increased risk of premature delivery,
low birth weight babies,
growth retardation & neural tube defects eg. spina bifida, spontaneous abortion, placental abruption, pre-eclampsia and high homocysteine levels

Anyone who is considering starting a family or is in their first few weeks of pregnancy should consider Preconception Care as a potential safeguard for their child’s future health.

By Jayne Parish BAHSc 9/08/07

For more information on Preconception care click here, call or email us your query.