Gestational diabetes & diabetes in pregnancy
Prenatal Glucose Intolerance and Child Neurodevelopmental Disorders
Authors' conclusion
In this case-control study, GDM was associated with NDD in a gestational timing- and sex-specific manner. IGT associations with NDD were also sex-specific, adding to a body of research demonstrating influences of prenatal IGT on child outcomes.
Study context
- Population
- Mother-child pairs, children born 2011–2018 in an integrated health system in northern California, followed up through 2023; 683 autism spectrum disorder (ASD) cases, 2054 developmental delay cases, 1809 controls; 59.3% male
- Participants
- 4,546 mother-child pairs
- Comparison
- Prenatal GDM or subclinical impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) vs no exposure, for child neurodevelopmental disorders (NDD)
- GDMn = 403
- IGTn = 64
- Outcome
- ASD and developmental delay (aOR for association with prenatal exposures)
Methodological detailselectronic health records, integrated health system, northern California, multivariable logistic regression
- Electronic health records
- Integrated health system, northern California
- Multivariable logistic regression
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
GDM and ASD, aOR (95% CI 0.83-1.60); not associated
1.15
GDM and developmental delay, aOR (95% CI 0.98-1.57); not associated
1.24
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
GDM and ASD, by sex
- Females, aOR
- 2.05 (95% CI 1.15-3.56)
- Males, aOR
- 0.93 (95% CI 0.62-1.37)
- P for interaction
- .04
Early GDM and ASD, by sex
- Females, aOR
- 3.23 (95% CI 1.11-8.91)
- Males, aOR
- 0.78 (95% CI 0.38-1.56)
- P for interaction
- .02
- No associations between standard or late GDM and ASD in either sex
IGT and developmental delay, by sex
- Females, aOR
- 3.25 (95% CI 1.34-8.68)
- Males, aOR
- 1.07 (95% CI 0.50-2.39)
- P for interaction
- .08
Original publication
Prenatal Glucose Intolerance and Child Neurodevelopmental Disorders. JAMA Netw Open. Published 3 November 2025. doi:10.
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