Diabetes during pregnancy can often lead to overweight babies: Docs

Hyderabad: The prevalence of diabetes among pregnant women in Telangana has also been cited as a reason for the significant increase in caesarean section deliveries.
Describing it as a vicious cycle, medical experts said pregnant women with diabetes (also known as gestational diabetes) often give birth to large babies (macrosomia infants) weighing more than 3 kg. This condition requires caesarean sections, and these larger babies are at increased risk of obesity in adulthood, which in turn increases their susceptibility to diabetes.

Dr V Sireesha, consultant in obstetrics and gynaecology at Aster Prime Hospital, notes that a family history of diabetes significantly increases the likelihood of developing diabetes during pregnancy. Obesity also plays a crucial role, especially in urban areas, where the trend is more pronounced among pregnant women over the age of 30. These women are also more likely to remain diabetic after giving birth, and their infants are also more likely to be obese," Dr Sireesha explained.
Furthermore, the newborns of diabetic mothers face additional health challenges. Dr Kanchan S Channwar, a consultant paediatrician and paediatric interventionist at Kamineni Hospital, pointed out that these babies can face problems such as respiratory distress, jaundice, electrolyte imbalances and occasionally cardiac problems. "Recently, we treated a pregnant woman with diabetes whose blood sugar levels were stabilised, but her baby required extended neonatal care due to a heart defect. To safeguard the health of their children, it is essential that these women adopt a healthy lifestyle," advises Dr Kanchan.
Dr C Aparna, clinical director of neonatology and senior consultant paediatrician at KIMS Cuddles, Kondapur, explains that larger babies born to diabetic mothers are at a higher risk of injury during delivery. "As the birth canal narrows, these babies can suffer neck injuries. In addition, babies born to diabetic mothers are significantly more likely to require a longer stay in the neonatal unit. There has been a significant increase in cases of gestational diabetes in the last four to five years," Dr Aparna added.