Complications of Diabetes Mellitus: Complications for the Newborn

Women with diabetes should take special care during pregnancy. A particular concern is unusually large birth weights in their newborns. Some women develop diabetes mellitus during pregnancy, a condition that disappears after delivery; this is called gestational diabetes. Although gestational diabetes is not associated with an increase in birth defects, it can cause other difficulties, such as increased birth weight, birth trauma, and an increased risk of cesarean section.

Nutritional Considerations

Avoiding complications requires good blood sugar control before pregnancy. Women with diabetes can be counseled to plan their pregnancies so that good control can be started early. In particular, control of blood sugar has been shown to prevent increased birth weight, which increases the risk of many complications of delivery.