Perinatal and Neonatal Outcomes in Infants of Diabetic Mothers: A Prospective Descriptive Study in a Tertiary Care...

Background Maternal diabetes is a well-recognized contributor to neonatal morbidity. Infants born to mothers with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and pregestational diabetes are predisposed to metabolic, respiratory, and hematological disturbances. Understanding the distribution of these outcomes is important for optimizing neonatal care. Objectives To describe neonatal outcomes, including metabolic, respiratory, hematological, and anthropometric parameters, along with perinatal factors and maternal demographic and clinical characteristics among infants of diabetic mothers in a tertiary care setting in South India. Methods A prospective descriptive study was conducted over one year in a tertiary care hospital in South India. A total of 161 eligible mother-infant pairs, in which the mothers had diabetes, were included during the study period from September 2024 to August 2025. Maternal demographic, clinical, and treatment-related characteristics were recorded. Neonatal outcomes, including metabolic, respiratory, hematological, and anthropometric parameters, were assessed using standard definitions. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Results: Among 161 infants, the majority were delivered at term (143, 88.8%). Hypoglycemia was the most frequently observed metabolic abnormality, affecting 22 (13.6%) neonates, followed by hypomagnesemia in five (3.0%) and hypocalcemia in four (2.4%). Hyperbilirubinemia was noted in 35 (21.7%) neonates. Respiratory distress was observed in 25 (15.5%) infants, with transient tachypnoea accounting for the majority. Most infants were appropriate for gestational age (124, 77.0%), while 20 (12.4%) were large and 17 (10.5%) were small for gestational age. Conclusion Infants of diabetic mothers demonstrated hypoglycemia, hyperbilirubinemia, and respiratory distress, which were the most common outcomes. These findings reinforce the importance of systematic surveillance and timely intervention to reduce neonatal morbidity in this high-risk population.