Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Exposure to Diabetes In Utero, Offspring Growth, and Risk for Obesity

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Obesity Before Birth

Part of the book series: Endocrine Updates ((ENDO,volume 30))

Abstract

With obesity now affecting one in five children in the United States and gestational diabetes increasing among all racial and ethnic groups, it is becoming increasingly important to understand how events that happen early in life, even before birth, can alter the obesity trajectory of individuals. The effects of intrauterine exposure to a diabetic pregnancy may permanently alter the offspring’s long-term risk for obesity and metabolic disease. The biologic mechanisms responsible for the effects of fetal overnutrition are not completely understood, nor are the relative contributions of early postnatal nutrition. But if the hypothesis is correct that maternal obesity and diabetes during pregnancy drives fuel-mediated teratogenesis, the public health consequences are serious, as obesity is highly prevalent and increasing worldwide. Continued research is important to understand the relative contributions of early life exposures and inform clinical risk reduction and public health prevention strategies to minimize or arrest the vicious cycle of obesity and metabolic disease that are likely passed from generation to generation.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 129.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 169.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 219.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  1. Freinkel N. Of pregnancy and progeny (review). Banting lecture 1980. Diabetes. 1980;29:1023–36.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Ben-Haroush A, Yogev Y, Hod M. Epidemiology of gestational diabetes mellitus and its association with Type 2 diabetes. Diabet Med. 2003;21:103–13.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Dabelea D, Snell-Bergeon J, Hartsfield C, Bischoff K, Hamman R, McDuffie R. Increasing prevalence of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) over time and by birth cohort: Kaiser Permanente of Colorado GDM Screening Program. Diabetes Care. 2005;28:579–84.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Ferrara A, Kahn H, Quesenberry C, Riley C, Hedderson M. An increase in the incidence of gestational diabetes mellitus: Northern California, 1991–2000. Obstet Gynecol. 2004;103:526–33.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Hussain A, Claussen B, Ramachandran A, Williams R. Prevention of type 2 diabetes: A review. Diabetes Res Clin Pract. 2007;76:317–26.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Dabelea D, Pettitt D, Jones K, Arslanian S. Type 2 diabetes mellitus in minority children and adolescents. An emerging problem. Endocrinol Metab Clin North Am. 1999;28:709–29.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Langer O, Conway D. Level of glycemia and perinatal outcome in pregestational diabetes. J Matern Fetal Med. 2000;9(1):35–41.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Ratner R. Clinical review 47: gestational diabetes mellitus: after three international workshops do we know how to diagnose and manage it yet?. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 1993;77(1):1–4.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Buchanan T, Kjos S. Gestational diabetes: risk or myth? J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 1999;84(6):1854–7.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Dornhorst A, Chan S. The elusive diagnosis of gestational diabetes. Diabet Med. 1998;15(1):7–10.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. American Diabetes Association. Gestational diabetes mellitus. Diabetes Care. 2000;23 Suppl 1:S77–9.

    Google Scholar 

  12. ACOG Practice Bulletin. Clinical management guidelines for obstetrician-gynecologists. Obstet Gynecol. 2001;98(30):525–38.

    Google Scholar 

  13. National Diabetes Data Group. Classification and diagnosis of diabetes mellitus and other categories of glucose intolerance. Diabetes. 1979;28:1039–57.

    Google Scholar 

  14. Carpenter MW, Coustan DR. Criteria for screening tests for gestational diabetes. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 1982;144:768–73.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Ferrara A, Hedderson MM, Quesenberry CP, Selby JV. Prevalence of gestational diabetes mellitus detected by the national diabetes data group or the Carpenter and Coustan plasma glucose thresholds. Diabetes Care. 2002;25(9):1625–30.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Mello G, Parretti E, Mecacci F, Lucchetti R, Cianciulli D, Lagazio C. Anthropometric characteristics of full-term infants: effects of varying degrees of ‘normal’ glucose metabolism. J Perinat Med. 1997;25:197–204.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Tan Y, Yeo G. Impaired glucose tolerance in pregnancy–is it of consequence? Aust NZ J Obstet Gynaecol. 1996;36:248–55.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Yogev Y, Langer O, Xenakis E, Rosenn B. The association between glucose challenge test, obesity and pregnancy outcome in 6390 non-diabetic women. J Matern Fetal Neonatal Med. 2005;17:29–34.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  19. Hill J, Krishnaveni G, Annamma I, Leary S, Fall C. Glucose tolerance in pregnancy in South India: relationships to neonatal anthropometry. Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand. 2005;84(2):159–65.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. Simmons D, Breier B. Adult obesity and growth in childhood. Fuel mediated teratogenesis driven by maternal obesity may be responsible for pandemic of obesity. BMJ. 2002;324(7338):674.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  21. Group HSCR, Metzger B, Lowe L, Dyer A, Trimble E, Chaovarindr U, et al. Hyperglycemia and adverse pregnancy outcomes. N Engl J Med. 2008;358(19):1991–2002.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  22. Catalano P, Thomas A, Huston-Presley L, Amini S. Increased fetal adiposity: a very sensitive marker of abnormal in utero development. AM J Obstet Gynecol. 2003;189:1698–704.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  23. Hammami M, Walters J, Hockman E, Koo W. Disproportionate alterations in body composition of large for gestational age neonates. J Pediatr. 2001;138:817–21.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. White P, Koshy P, Duckers J. Management of pregnancy complicating diabetes and of children of diabetic mothers. Med Clin North Am. 1953;1:1481–96.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  25. Hagbard L, Olow I, Reinand T. A follow-up study of 514 children of diabetic mothers. Acta Paediatr. 1959;48(2):184–97.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  26. Vohr B, Lipsitt L, Oh W. Somatic growth of children of diabetic mothers with reference to birth size. J Pediatr. 1980;97(2):196–9.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  27. Gerlini G, Arachi S, Gori M, Gloria F, Bonci E, Pachi A, et al. Developmental aspects of the offspring of diabetic mothers. Acta Endocrinol. 1986;277 Suppl Copenh:150–5.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  28. Stenhouse E, Wright D, Hattersley A, Millward B. Maternal glucose levels influence birth weight and ‘catch-up’ and ‘catch-down’ growth in a large contemporary cohort. Diabet Med. 2006;23:1207–12.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  29. Touger L, Looker H, Krakoff J, Lindsay R, Cook V, Knowler W. Early growth in offspring of diabetic mothers. Diabetes Care. 2005;28(3):585–9.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  30. Silverman B, Rizzo T, Green O, Cho N, Winter R, Ogata E, et al. Long-term prospective evaluation of offspring of diabetic mothers. Diabetes. 1991;40 Suppl 2:121–5.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  31. Silverman B, Metzger B, Cho N, Loeb C. Impaired glucose tolerance in adolescent offspring of diabetic mothers. Diabetes Care. 1995;18(5):611–9.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  32. Silverman B, Rizzo T, Cho N, Metzger B. Long-term effects of the intrauterine environment. The Northwestern University Diabetes in Pregnancy Center. Diabetes Care. 1998;21 Suppl 2:B142–9.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  33. Pettitt D, Bennett P, Knowler W, Baird H, Aleck K. Gestational diabetes mellitus and impaired glucose tolerance during pregnancy: long-term effects on obesity and glucose tolerance in the offspring. Diabetes. 1985;34 Suppl 2:119–23.

    Google Scholar 

  34. Pettitt D, Nelson M, Saad R, Bennett P, Knowler W. Diabetes and obesity in the offspring of Pima Indian women with diabetes during pregnancy. Diabetes Care. 1993;16:310–5.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  35. Pettitt D, Baird H, Aleck K, Bennett P, Knowler W. Excessive obesity in offspring of Pima Indian women with diabetes during pregnancy. N Engl J Med. 1983;308:242–6.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  36. Pettitt D, Aleck K, Baird H, Carraher M, Bennett P, Knowler W. Congenital susceptibility to NIDDM: role of intrauterine environment. Diabetes. 1988;37(5):622–8.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  37. Dabelea D, Knowler W, Pettitt D. Effect of diabetes in pregnancy on offspring: follow-up research in the Pima Indians. J Matern Fetal Med. 2000;9:83–9.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  38. Hiller T, Pedula K, Schmidt M, Mullen J, Charles M, Pettitt D. Childhood obesity and metabolic imprinting: the ongoing effects of maternal hyperglycemia. Diabetes Care. 2007;30:2287–97.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  39. Dabelea D, Pettitt D. Intrauterine diabetic environment confers risks for type 2 diabetes mellitus and obesity in the offspring, in addition to genetic susceptibility. J Pediatr Endocrinol Metab. 2001;14:1085–91.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  40. Dabelea D, Hanson R, Bennett P, Roumain J, Knowler W, Pettitt D. Increasing prevalence of type II diabetes in American Indian children. Diabetologia. 1988;41:904–10.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  41. Dabelea D, Mayer-Davis E, Lamichhane A, D’Agostino RJ, Liese A, Vehik K, et al. Association of intrauterine exposure to maternal diabetes and obesity with type 2 diabetes in youth: the SEARCH Case-Control Study. Diabetes Care. 2008;31(7):1422–7.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  42. Metzger B, Silverman B, Freinkel N, Dooley S, Ogata E, Green O. Amniotic fluid insulin concentration as a predictor of obesity. Arch Dis Child. 1990;65:1050–3.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  43. Gillman M, Rifas-Shiman S, Berkey C, Field A, Colditz G. Maternal gestational diabetes, birth weight, and adolescent obesity. Pediatrics. 2003;111(3):e221–7.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  44. Boney CM, et al. Metabolic syndrome in childhood: association with birth weight, maternal obesity, and gestational diabetes mellitus. Pediatrics. 2005;115(3):e290–5.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  45. Kim C, Newton K, Knopp R. Gestational diabetes and the incidence of type 2 diabetes: a systematic review. Diabetes Care. 2002;25:1862–8.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  46. Pettitt D, Knowler W. Long-term effects of the intrauterine environment, birth weight, and breast-feeding in Pima Indians. Diabetes Care. 1988;21 Suppl 2:B138–41.

    Google Scholar 

  47. Dabelea D, Hanson R, Lindsay R, Pettitt D, Imperatore G, Gabir M, et al. Intrauterine exposure to diabetes conveys risks for type 2 diabetes and obesity: a study of discordant siblings. Diabetes. 2000;49:2208–11.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  48. Weiss P, Scholz H, Haas J, Tamussino K, Seissler J, Borkenstein M. Long-term follow-up of infants of mothers with type 1 diabetes: evidence for hereditary and nonhereditary transmission of diabetes and precursors. Diabetes Care. 2000;23:905–11.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  49. Silverman B, Metzger B, Cho N, Loeb C. Impaired glucose tolerance in adolescent offspring of diabetic mothers: relationship to fetal hyperinsulinism. Diabetes Care. 1995;18(5):611–7.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  50. Lawrence JM, Contreras R, Chen W, Sacks DA. Trends in the prevalence of preexisting diabetes and gestational diabetes mellitus among a racially/ethnically diverse population of pregnant women, 1999–2005. Diabetes Care. 2008;31:899–904.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  51. Crowther C, Hiller J, Moss J, McPhee A, Jeffries W, Robinson J. Effect of treatment of gestational diabetes mellitus on pregnancy outcomes. N Engl J Med. 2005;352:2477–86.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  52. Institute of Medicine (U.S.). Subcommittee on nutritional status and weight gain during pregnancy. Weight gain during pregnancy: reexamining the guidelines. Washington, DC: National Academy Press; 2009.

    Google Scholar 

  53. Enzi G, Inelmen E, Rubaltelli F, Zanardo V, Favaretto L. Postnatal development of adipose tissue in normal children on strictly controlled calorie intake. Metabolism. 1982;31(10):1029–34.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  54. Gillman M, Rifas-Shiman S, Camargo C, Berkey C, Frazier A, Rockett H, et al. Risk of overweight among adolescents who were breastfed as infants. JAMA. 2001;285(19):2461–9.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  55. Mayer-Davis E, Rifas-Shiman S, Zhou L, Hu F, Colditz G, Gillman M. Breastfeeding and risk for childhood obesity: does maternal diabetes status matter? Diabetes Care. 2006;29(10):2231–8.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Epidemiology, Colorado School of Public Health, University of Colorado, Denver, CO, USA

    Tessa Crume & Dana Dabelea

Authors
  1. Tessa Crume
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Dana Dabelea
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Tessa Crume .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Director, Weight Assessment for Teen and, Division of Endocrinology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, 94143, USA

    Robert H Lustig

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2011 Springer Science+Business Media, LLC

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Crume, T., Dabelea, D. (2011). Exposure to Diabetes In Utero, Offspring Growth, and Risk for Obesity. In: Lustig, R. (eds) Obesity Before Birth. Endocrine Updates, vol 30. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-7034-3_9

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-7034-3_9

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4419-7033-6

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4419-7034-3

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation