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Offspring of diabetic pregnancy: long-term outcomes

Umberto Simeoni1, David J Barker

  • 1INSERM UMR608, Université de la Méditerranée, France; Faculté de Médecine, Université de la Méditerranée, France; Division of Neonatology, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Marseille, France. umberto.simeoni@ap-hm.fr

Seminars in Fetal & Neonatal Medicine
|February 12, 2009
PubMed

Insights

Maternal diabetes during pregnancy can lead to lifelong health issues in offspring, including hypertension and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). This programming creates a cycle contributing to the global T2DM epidemic.

Area of Science:

  • Endocrinology
  • Developmental Biology
  • Cardiovascular Science

Background:

  • Diabetes in pregnancy poses risks for offspring's long-term health.
  • Increased maternal glucose concentrations during gestation impact fetal development.
  • Focus is shifting from solely T2DM to broader cardiovascular consequences like hypertension.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review epidemiological and mechanistic factors in developmental programming of offspring from diabetic pregnancies.
  • To emphasize renal and vascular mechanisms underlying hypertension in these offspring.
  • To discuss the contribution of offspring's health issues to the global type 2 diabetes mellitus epidemic.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of epidemiological studies.
  • Analysis of mechanistic pathways linking in-utero exposure to long-term health outcomes.
  • Synthesis of evidence on developmental origins of hypertension and T2DM.

Main Results:

  • Offspring exposed to maternal diabetes exhibit increased incidence of hypertension and T2DM.
  • Renal and vascular alterations are key mechanisms programming long-term cardiovascular consequences.
  • Developmental programming contributes to a cycle perpetuating T2DM.

Conclusions:

  • Diabetes in pregnancy has profound, lifelong effects on offspring's cardiovascular and metabolic health.
  • Understanding these mechanisms is crucial for preventing chronic diseases in subsequent generations.
  • Interventions targeting maternal health may mitigate the intergenerational transmission of T2DM and hypertension.

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