Diseases & conditions

Study: Maternal Diabetes Rises Children's Autism, ADHD Risk

Published APR 8 2025

Story

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The Facts

According to a comprehensive meta-analysis of 202 studies involving over 56 million mother-child pairs, maternal diabetes during pregnancy is associated with a 28% increased risk of neurodevelopmental disorders in children.
Reuters
The Sun
The research, published Monday, found that children born to mothers with diabetes showed a 25% higher risk for autism, 30% higher risk for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and 32% higher risk for intellectual disability compared to children of non-diabetic mothers.
Reuters
Express.co.uk
Additionally, pre-existing diabetes before pregnancy carried a 39% higher risk for neurodevelopmental disorders compared to gestational diabetes that develops during pregnancy, suggesting timing and duration of diabetes exposure may be significant factors.
The Lancet
CNA
The study found that diabetes affects up to 9% of pregnancies in the U.S., with an estimated 10% of American women diagnosed with diabetes in 2021, and 9% developing gestational diabetes annually.
The New York Times
Gestational Diabetes
When examining sibling comparisons within seven studies, researchers found no clear effect from maternal diabetes, indicating that shared genetic or familial factors might contribute to the increased risk.
CNA
Independent
The meta-analysis included studies that adjusted for multiple confounding factors such as maternal age and body mass index, strengthening the reliability of the findings, though causation remains unestablished.
The New York Times
The Lancet

Sources Split

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The Spin

Narrative A

The consistent association between maternal diabetes and neurodevelopmental disorders across such a large and diverse dataset demands immediate attention to diabetes screening and management in reproductive-age women. The findings emphasize the critical importance of controlling blood sugar levels before and during pregnancy, particularly given the rising rates of diabetes globally.

The New York Times

Narrative B

The relationship between maternal diabetes and neurodevelopmental disorders may be influenced by unmeasured genetic and familial factors rather than diabetes itself. The sibling comparison studies showed no apparent effect, and the research lacks comprehensive data from low-income countries where diabetes is more prevalent, making it premature to draw definitive conclusions about causation.

Independent