Path to Diabetes Begins Before Birth

---

Comparison of plasma insulin levels after a mixed-meal challenge in children with and without intrauterine exposure to diabetes, by A.D. Salbe and colleagues. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 92:624-628, 2007.

What is the problem and what is known about it so far?

Research shows that children of mothers with diabetes are more likely to develop diabetes when they grow up. Exposure to diabetes in the womb appears to have an effect on the baby.

Identifying children who are likely to develop diabetes would help doctors and others focus efforts to reduce the toll of the disease.

Why did the researchers do this particular study?

The researchers wanted to know if there are differences in the body’s ability to handle insulin and blood glucose among children born to mothers with diabetes compared with those born to mothers without diabetes.

Who was studied?

The study included 19 children who were born to mothers who developed diabetes before the pregnancy, and 22 children of mothers who developed diabetes after the pregnancy in question.

How was the study done?

After fasting all night, all participants ate the same breakfast, then had blood drawn to measure levels of glucose and insulin.

What did the researchers find?

Children born to mothers with diabetes had a lower insulin response than those born to mothers without diabetes. The differences were apparent as young as 9 years of age.

What were the limitations of the study?

The number of participants was rather small. A larger number of people may lead to different results. Also, there could be factors at work other than exposure to diabetes in the womb that were not included in the study.

What are the implications of the study?

The reduced insulin response in children of mothers with diabetes may be an early indicator of disease. This finding may explain why these children are more likely to develop diabetes when they grow up.