Kids at higher risk of autism if mum has diabetes

Scimex: Kids of mums who have any of the three main types of diabetes during pregnancy are at higher risk of developing autism, according to US research. The study showed that type 1 and type 2 diabetes, as well as gestational, or pregnancy related diabetes, diagnosed before 26 weeks were all linked to an increased risk of having a child with autism spectrum disorder. The authors say that, while the study cannot show that diabetes causes autism, it does suggest the severity of the mother's diabetes and the timing of exposure (early vs late in pregnancy) may be linked with the risk of children developing autism.

Winter conception increases mum's diabetes risk

Scimex: Research led by the University of Adelaide has found that women whose babies are conceived in winter are more likely to develop gestational diabetes during pregnancy, increasing a range of risk factors for both child and mother. The study – investigating more than 60,000 births in South Australia over a five-year period – is the first population-based study of its kind to confirm a seasonal variation in gestational diabetes. Published in the journal BMJ Diabetes Research & Care, the study was led by the Robinson Research Institute at the University of Adelaide, and involved the University of Groningen in the Netherlands and the Pregnancy Outcome Unit of SA Health.

High iron levels linked with gestational diabetes

Scimex: Higher iron levels are associated with an increased risk of gestational diabetes in pregnant women, raising questions about iron supplementation recommendations. New research published in Diabetologia (the journal of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes [EASD]) shows that high levels of iron biomarkers in the body are associated with an increased risk of gestational diabetes (GDM) in pregnant women, raising questions about routine recommendations on iron supplementation in pregnancy.  The study is by Dr Cuilin Zhang and Dr Shristi Rawal, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), US National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda, MD, USA and colleagues.

Potato consumption before pregnancy linked to diabetes risk during pregnancy

BMJ: Flavonoids from fruits and vegetables may help with  weight maintenance Eating fruit and vegetables that contain high levels of  flavonoids, such as apples, pears, and berries, may be  associated with less weight gain, suggests findings from a  study published in The BMJ today.
Dietary flavonoids are natural compounds found in fruits and  vegetables. These have been linked to weight loss, but most  studies have looked at a particular flavonoid found in green tea, and have mostly been limited to small samples.

Early pregnancy weight control through healthy eating may prevent gestational diabetes

Western Sydney: A new study published in the international journal Diabetes Care has found that obese women keeping their weight under control through healthy eating from early in pregnancy might prevent gestational diabetes. The purpose of the study was to look at possible ways to reduce the incidence of gestational diabetes, one of the fastest growing problems seen in pregnant women today.