The Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine published a report this week concluded that if a mother has diabetes while pregnant, their baby will be twice as likely to get attention deficit hyperactivity disorder by 6 years of age.

It also suggested that the economic status of the parents have an effect on the child also. Parents who are poor and the mother has diabetes, raised the risk to 14 times the average.

The report cannot directly link gestational diabetes as the definite cause of ADHD. The correlation only suggests that there may be a future problem.

Common but temporary, gestational diabetes after the first trimester.

The problem of gestational diabetes is more widespread than people realize. In fact as many as 5% of all pregnant mothers are thought to have gestational diabetes. the condition is usually detected the 2nd trimester on. It is a temporary condition. This is when the baby starts rapidly developing brain function.

The babies central nervous system can be effected if the blood sugar levels are too high. Because of this imbalance, effort is put towards combating the sugars and not development.

As to the question of poverty. Children who grow up with wealthier parents generally get better quality foods. This starts with the mother eating good nourishment during pregnancy.

The report is based on observing 212 kids in new york with 21 of them from mothers diagnosed with gestational diabetes mellitus. Ages ranged from 4 to 6. The study was very small and basic. It didn’t take into account many factors that could have effected ADHD.

Factors such as pesticides and lead are examples of things believed to contribute to attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Although this report is not definitive, It is worth at least considering gestational diabetes symptoms as a potential risk factor so mothers can adjust eating habits early.

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