Diabetes during pregnancy—often called gestational diabetes or pre-existing diabetes in pregnancy—can affect both the mother and the unborn baby.
When a mother’s blood sugar remains high, the extra glucose passes through the placenta to the baby. This can influence the baby’s growth, organs, and health before and after birth.
This article explains how diabetes in pregnancy can affect the baby and why proper control is so important.
What happens when a mother has high blood sugar?
During pregnancy, the baby receives nutrients from the mother’s blood through the placenta.
If the mother’s blood sugar is high, the baby also receives excess sugar.
To cope with this, the baby’s body produces more insulin. This combination of high sugar and high insulin can lead to several problems.
Possible effects on the unborn baby
1. Excessive growth (large baby – macrosomia)
One of the most common effects is that the baby grows larger than normal.
This can lead to:
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Difficult or prolonged labor
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Higher chance of birth injury
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Increased need for cesarean delivery
2. Low blood sugar after birth (newborn hypoglycemia)
After birth, the baby suddenly stops receiving high sugar from the mother.
However, the baby may still produce high levels of insulin.
This can cause:
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Low blood sugar shortly after birth
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Jitteriness
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Poor feeding
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Breathing difficulty (in severe cases)
3. Breathing problems
Babies born to mothers with poorly controlled diabetes may have delayed lung maturity, especially if born early.
This can result in:
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Rapid breathing
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Need for oxygen or special care after delivery
4. Higher risk of preterm birth
Uncontrolled diabetes increases the risk of:
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Early delivery
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Medical complications that require the baby to be delivered before full term
5. Higher risk of obesity and diabetes later in life
Studies show that babies exposed to high blood sugar during pregnancy have a greater chance of:
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Childhood obesity
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Type 2 diabetes later in life
6. Birth defects (mainly with pre-existing diabetes)
If a mother already has diabetes before becoming pregnant and blood sugar is not well controlled in early pregnancy, the risk of certain birth defects increases, including:
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Heart defects
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Problems with the spine or nervous system
This risk is much lower in gestational diabetes that starts later in pregnancy.
Can these risks be reduced?
Yes. Most complications can be significantly reduced with good diabetes control.
Proper management includes:
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Regular blood sugar monitoring
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A healthy, balanced pregnancy diet
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Safe physical activity (as advised by a doctor)
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Taking insulin or other medications if prescribed
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Regular prenatal check-ups and ultrasounds
Good control of blood sugar helps the baby grow at a normal and healthy rate.
When should a pregnant woman be especially careful?
Extra care is needed if:
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Blood sugar remains high despite diet changes
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There is excessive weight gain during pregnancy
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Ultrasound shows the baby is growing too fast
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There is a history of diabetes or previous large babies
In these situations, close medical follow-up is very important.
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