Maternal Type 1 Diabetes Linked to Higher Risk of Neonatal Complications

A large-scale Swedish study has found that maternal type 1 diabetes significantly increases the likelihood of adverse neonatal outcomes. Published in Acta Paediatrica, the study analyzed more than 1.4 million singleton births between 2010 and 2022, revealing heightened risks of stillbirth, congenital malformations, preterm birth, and neonatal mortality in infants born to mothers with type 1 diabetes.

Study Highlights Significant Neonatal Risks

Researchers at Karolinska Institutet Soder Hospital led by Dr. Alexandra Goldberg evaluated data from 1,402,394 births using Sweden’s national birth register. They found that 0.5% of mothers had been diagnosed with type 1 diabetes (T1D).

Compared to infants born to mothers without T1D, those with maternal type 1 diabetes showed the following increased risks:

  • Stillbirth (adjusted odds ratio [aOR]: 2.54)

  • Congenital malformations (aOR: 1.66)

  • Preterm birth before 34 weeks (aOR: 3.80)

  • Large for gestational age (aOR: 22.0)

  • Neonatal hypoglycemia (aOR: 45.85)

  • Neonatal death (aOR: 4.1)

Importantly, the risk of malformations was even higher in T1D mothers who were underweight or obese compared to those of normal weight.

Authors Call for Improved Maternal Care

“These findings emphasize the need for better understanding and enhanced care strategies for mothers with type 1 diabetes,” the authors stated.

While the research strengthens the known link between maternal type 1 diabetes and infant complications, it also highlights key gaps. For example, the study did not include pregnancies under 22 weeks or account for all maternal glucose variables.

For more on prenatal care for diabetic mothers, visit the CDC’s diabetes and pregnancy page.