Evidence from a recent study performed by the University of Alabama at Birmingham suggests that high blood glucose levels during pregnancy may lead to Type 2 diabetes in children. The children are often born with alterations in the way their body processes carbohydrates.
Post-doctoral candidate at UAB, Paula Chandler-Laney said, “This study is the first to show that even for children who have not yet become diabetic, there are changes in the way the body secretes and responds to insulin following prenatal exposure to high maternal blood sugar.”
The studies suggest health care providers should find alternative ways to assist mothers at risk for high glucose levels during pregnancy, in order to avoid potential risks for childhood obesity and Type 2 diabetes. Assistance would include blood glucose education and monitoring, as well as intervention if the levels were normal, but on the high end.
Consistent prenatal care during pregnancy is essential to monitor the health of the unborn baby and the mother. Integrating a system of blood glucose monitoring could impact the overall health of the baby.
When I was pregnant, near the final weeks before I had my daughter, my doctor was concerned about my blood glucose levels. My daughter does not have Type 2 diabetes, but it does make you wonder how many childhood illnesses are the direct result of how our bodies and hormones react to being pregnant.