Overview
Infants of diabetic mothers (IDMs) have experienced a nearly 30-fold decrease in morbidity and mortality rates since the development of specialized maternal, fetal, and neonatal care for women with diabetes and their offspring. Before then, fetal and neonatal mortality rates were as high as 65%.
Today, 3-10% of pregnancies are affected by abnormal glucose regulation and control. Of these cases, 80-88% are related to abnormal glucose control of pregnancy or gestational diabetes mellitus. Of mothers with preexisting diabetes, 35% have been found to have type 1 diabetes mellitus, and 65% have been found to have type 2 diabetes mellitus.
Infants born to mothers with glucose intolerance are at an increased risk of morbidity and mortality related to the following:
Respiratory distress
Growth abnormalities (large for gestational age [LGA], small for gestational age [SGA])
Hyperviscosity secondary to polycythemia
Congenital malformations
Hypocalcemia, hypomagnesemia, and iron abnormalities
These infants are likely to be born by cesarean delivery for many reasons, among which are such complications as shoulder dystocia with potential brachial plexus injury related to the infant’s large size. These mothers must be closely monitored throughout pregnancy. If optimal care is provided, the perinatal mortality rate, excluding congenital malformations, is nearly equivalent to that observed in normal pregnancies.