A simple method for the assessment of infants of diabetic mothers at birth

Twenty-five infants of diabetic mothers were analysed over a 6-month period from three hospitals to determine the value of arm/head ratio in the identification of infants of diabetic mothers at birth. The infants were grouped according to control of maternal disease and quality of intra-uterine growth. The sensitivity and specificity of arm/head ratio in the identification of infants based on maternal control were 82 and 93 per cent, respectively. The ratio is a simple method and is suggested for routine evaluation of infants of diabetic mothers especially in developing countries.