Time and time again, we have heard about the health risks of gestation diabetes to both mom and baby. This latest study suggests that babies born to moms with pregnancy-related diabetes have twice the risk of having problems in language development compared to babies born to non-diabetic moms. These children performed poorly in language tests – particularly in grammar and vocabulary – even after they start school. The study looked at about 2800 children who were tested several times between 18 months and seven years.
Currently, it is an estimated incidence that 2 to 14% of children are born to moms with gestational diabetes. Two major risk factors for this pregnancy-related disorder are maternal age and weight.
I always take such news with a grain of salt. I had mild gestational diabetes when I was expecting my twins – mainly due to my age and the multiple pregnancy. I’ve been warned that my boys might have language problems – them being boys, preemies, growing up in a bilingual home, and now this. Am I worried? No. I am no expert but I don’t think my boys have any language problems whatsoever. Maybe I’m wrong. After all, they are only 5. But I don’t want my boys to be just part of some health statistics. There are other factors involved in the language development of a child and the family environment is one of them. The same study, for example, also noted that children of moms with higher education are less affected by this problem.