Mom’s Insulin Resistance Linked to Child’s Obesity and Diabetes Risks

Researchers have found that a pregnant woman’s insulin resistance is linked to foetal brain response which decides about the unborn child’s obesity and diabetes risks. Researchers at University of Tübingen in Germany and the German Center for Diabetes Research studied 13 healthy pregnant women who were given oral glucose tolerance test.

Along with the women’s insulin sensitivity, researchers also recorded brain responses of the foetus with the help of magnetoencephalographic device.

“Lower maternal insulin sensitivity is associated with slower foetal brain responses,” the researchers said. “These findings provide the first evidence of a direct effect of maternal metabolism on foetal brain activity and suggest that central insulin resistance may be programmed during foetal development.”

The researchers said this type of “metabolic imprinting of insulin resistance” could influence children as they age.

Women who suffer from diabetes and also have glyacaemia problems pass on the risk to their children and they have higher chance of getting obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus in later life, said researchers.

Source-Medindia