Managing Diabetes in Pregnancy: Potential Links to ADHD and Autism in Children and What It Means for Thailand
A comprehensive meta-analysis published in a leading medical journal reveals a notable association between maternal diabetes during pregnancy and a higher risk of neurodevelopmental disorders in offspring, including autism and ADHD. The large study pooled data from hundreds of studies and millions of pregnancies, emphasizing the importance of diligent blood sugar monitoring for expectant mothers to improve outcomes for babies.
Researchers distinguished between gestational diabetes, which arises during pregnancy, and pre-gestational diabetes, in which the mother already has type 1 or type 2 diabetes. The analysis found about a one-quarter to one-third increase in neurodevelopmental risks for children born to mothers with diabetes, even after adjusting for factors such as weight and socioeconomic status. The elevated risk was more pronounced for women with pre-existing diabetes than for those who develop gestational diabetes.