Risk factors for childhood overweight in offspring of type 1 diabetic women with adequate glycemic control during pregnancy: Nationwide follow-up study in the Netherlands.
OBJECTIVE
Pregnancy in type 1 diabetic women remains a high-risk situation for both mother and child. In this study, we investigated long-term effects on body composition, prevalence of overweight, and insulin resistance in children of type 1 diabetic women who had had adequate glycemic control during pregnancy (mean A1C 6.2%), and we related their outcome to perinatal factors, including macrosomia (birth weight >90th percentile).


METHODS
Anthropometric measurements were performed at 6-8 years of age in 213 offspring of type 1 diabetic mothers who participated in a previous nationwide study. Homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) was determined from a fasting blood sample in 155 of these children. In addition, we studied BMI standard deviation score (SDS) growth trajectories. Results were compared with national reference data.


RESULTS
The prevalence of overweight in the study population was not different from that in the reference population. However, children who were born macrosomic showed twice as much overweight as nonmacrosomic children. Macrosomia and maternal overweight were independent predictors of childhood overweight. Overweight children showed an increase in BMI SDS starting already after 6 months of age and had a significantly increased HOMA-IR.


CONCLUSIONS
In type 1 diabetic women with adequate glycemic control during pregnancy, long-term effects on body composition and overweight in their offspring at school age are limited and related mainly to macrosomia at birth. Possible targets for prevention of childhood overweight are fetal macrosomia, maternal overweight, and an increase in BMI SDS during the first years of life.
Rijpert
Maarten
M
Division of Woman and Baby, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands. m.rijpert@umcutrecht.nl
Evers
Inge M
IM
de Vroede
Monique A M J
MA
de Valk
Harold W
HW
Heijnen
Cobi J
CJ
Visser
Gerard H A
GH
D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002648:Child; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics*; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005865:Gestational Age; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008423:Maternal Age; D009426:Netherlands / Q000453:epidemiology; D050177:Overweight / Q000453:epidemiology*; D010298:Parity; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology; D011254:Pregnancy in Diabetics / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics; D012307:Risk Factors; D012727:Sex Characteristics
D001786:Blood Glucose; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin