Gestational Diabetes Can Double the Risk of Language Delays

on November 14, 2008 at 6:59 AM

Photo by greyrose1970

Children born to moms with pregnancy-related diabetes run twice the risk of language development problems, new research shows. Researchers compared the grammar and vocabulary skills of kids (ranging in age from 18 months to 7 years) born to moms with gestational diabetes to those born to healthy moms, and found those born to moms with the illness scored lower.

The study is the first to look at the effects of gestational diabetes apart from other factors such as socioeconomic status, hypertension, and whether or not the mom consumed alcohol or tobacco -- and the difference in test scores between the two groups is thought to be due to the effects that gestational diabetes has on the brain development of babies.

The language delays weren't found to be a given, though -- children of better educated moms tended to be less affected, though it's unclear if that's because of the kind of learning environment those moms might create or because of genes that make some babies less vulnerable.

Gestational diabetes is fairly common; between 2% - 14% of babies are born to moms who suffer from it. Both the mom's age and her body weight put her at risk for the disease.

And moms are talking about it around here -- one mom wondered if you could have the disease during one pregnancy but not in another, and some moms said that had been the case for them.

If you have the disease, connect with Moms with Gestational Diabetes -- and if you're concerned, talk to your doctor.

Do you have gestational diabetes or another complication? And if so, how has it affected your pregnancy?

Filed Under: complications, in the news, pregnancy health

Comments (4)

valerieiveliss

on Nov 15, 2008 at 1:25 AM

I had gestational diabetes, I'm on the lower income scale I'd say, my daughter doesn't go to daycare or preschool but I try to teach her as much as I can and all I can say is boy is she a talker, she is 2 1/2 and has quite a vocabulary, 7 word sentences, etc, etc., I don't even understand how it could even correlate but oh well

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PrydferthMenyw

on Nov 15, 2008 at 6:49 PM

I do not agree with this study at all. I had unmonitored gestational diabetes with my second pregnancy and gave birth to a 10 lb baby. She met age-appropriate standards for language and vocabulary and has been an honor roll student for the past 7 years - all A's on her most recent report card. My third pregnancy resulted in my needing insulin injections to control my gestational diabetes and I gave birth to an 8 lb 12 oz baby. She is highly advanced in language and vocabulary, not to mention sciences and mathematics. She will make a spectacular lawyer if she chose that career path.

Again, the researchers did not seek myself nor my children as study cases and their results reflect that.

michiganmom116

on Nov 16, 2008 at 6:43 PM

I've had 4 pregnancies with gestational diabetes. NONE of my kids showed language development delays. I think the key word here is CAN, meaning it probably happened to someone and there is a possiblity it will happen to another woman, but I seriously wouldn't worry about language development delay because I had diabetes. There are other, more serious complications to worry about.

Ahma-Lily

on Jan 1, 2009 at 2:02 PM

Thanks ladies, this article (true or not, depending upon the mother & child) helped me out to at least know the studies that are out there. Yes, I have gestational diabetes and this is my 3rd pregnancy although the 2nd child did not make it. I am not on insulin, mines is diet and exercised controlled. I walk every day in the park, play with my son as this gives him time to be free as well. When it is cold or rainy of course we can not go out. I walk as much when I can. So far things are going well. I plan to give birth at the birthing center as I did with my 1st child so if I do not get my diabetes under control or have to get on insulin, they are making me have my baby in the hospital and I truly refuse that so I been working really hard on not having to do that.