Infants of Diabetic Mothers: The Effects of Hyperglycemia on the Fetus and Neonate

News that a woman with diabetes is about to deliver brings up images of a macrosomic infant. This infant may experience birth injuries, asphyxia, respiratory distress, hypoglycemia, hypocalcemia, hyperbilirubinemia, polycythemia/hyperviscosity syndrome, asymmetric septal hypertrophy, and other congenital malformations. Uncontrolled diabetes has profound effects on embryogenesis, organogenesis, and fetal and neonatal growth, and evidence increasingly indicates that some of these effects are lifelong and may contribute to adult obesity. Preconception control of diabetes and monitoring throughout pregnancy are important in reducing the impact of diabetes on the fetus and newborn.