Maternal diabetes increases risk of neurodevelopmental disorders among children: Lancet

A new study published in the journal of The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology showed that children with maternal diabetes have a higher chance of developing neurodevelopmental problems and perform worse in these domains. Diabetes in the mother may change how the fetus develops its brain. Thus, to synthesize and assess the existing data about the impact of maternal diabetes on children's neurodevelopmental outcomes, Wenrui Ye and colleagues carried out this investigation.

From the beginning until December 1, 2024, this study searched the PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, and EBSCO databases for research on the neurodevelopmental outcomes of children born to women with diabetes. According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition, and the International Classification of Diseases, Eleventh Revision, the main result was neurodevelopmental disorders. Information was taken from reports that were published. Random-effects models were used to pool the data, and the results were shown as standard mean differences with 95% confidence intervals or risk ratios.

The meta-analysis includes 202 studies with 56 082 462 mother-child pairings. Of them, 80 (40%) looked at pre-gestational diabetes, and 110 (54%) looked at gestational diabetes. 169 (84%) of the total examined studies were only concerned with children and adolescents up to the age of 18. Maternal diabetes was linked to poorer IQ and psychomotor scores, as well as higher odds of all forms of neurodevelopmental problems, in studies that controlled for at least one significant confounder.

Children exposed to maternal diabetes had a higher risk of any neurodevelopmental disorder, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, autism spectrum disorder, intellectual disability, communication disorder, specific developmental disorders, motor disorder, and learning disorder than children who were not exposed, according to studies controlling for multiple confounders (n=98, 49%). When compared to gestational diabetes, maternal pre-gestational diabetes was more significantly linked to the risk of the majority of neurodevelopmental problems in offspring.

Overall, children with diabetes had a higher chance of developing neurodevelopmental problems. Specific developmental problems, intellectual impairment, ADHD, and autism spectrum disorder were more prevalent. The risk of pre-gestational diabetes was higher than that of gestational diabetes. To prove causation and elucidate the relationships between certain forms of diabetes and the entire range of neurodevelopmental problems, more excellent research is required.

Source:

Ye, W., Luo, C., Zhou, J., Liang, X., Wen, J., Huang, J., Zeng, Y., Wu, Y., Gao, Y., Liu, Z., & Liu, F. (2025). Association between maternal diabetes and neurodevelopmental outcomes in children: a systematic review and meta-analysis of 202 observational studies comprising 56·1 million pregnancies. The Lancet. Diabetes & Endocrinology. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2213-8587(25)00036-1