Alarming New Study Uncovers Links Between Maternal Obesity and Childhood Diabetes and Autism

A new study from the University of California – Davis seems to have further strengthened the link between obesity and diabetes – but from a different angle.

Researchers found that there exists a strong link between maternal obesity and diabetes (along with autism and other related disabilities.) This is because poorly-managed glucose can expose the fetus to the mother’s abnormally high glucose levels. The fetus, in turn, creates high insulin levels in response, which is then carried over once the mother gives birth.

Furthermore, findings suggest that mothers with diabetes have a 2 1/3 greater chance of giving birth to a child with developmental problems.

The takeaways from these findings are two-fold. One, obese mothers must make every effort possible to lose weight, lest they give birth to a diabetic or autistic child. And two, pregnant women living with diabetes must do everything within their power to keep their blood sugars under control to minimize the risk of giving birth to a diabetic or autistic child.

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