Could ADHD and autism be linked to maternal diabetes?
A 25-39% higher risk of autism, ADHD, and other brain development issues in children… Why diabetes checks in pregnant women matter more than ever
A sweeping new study has found a link between maternal diabetes and increased risk of autism and other neurodevelopmental disorders in children. Published in The Lancet Diabetes and Endocrinology, the research collected data from over 56 million mother-child pairs across 202 studies, showing that children born to mothers with diabetes during pregnancy faced a 25% higher risk of autism, 30% higher risk of ADHD, and 32% higher risk of intellectual disabilities.
The risk was even more pronounced — 39% higher — when the mother had diabetes prior to pregnancy. While the study stops short of establishing causality, it highlights the critical importance of managing maternal diabetes to try and mitigate these risks.
