The ongoing effect of diabetes during pregnancy and the impact on infants

Abstract

In this issue of The Lancet Regional Health-Western Pacific, Hare and colleagues have reported on over three decades of data on hyperglycaemia (defined as pre-existing and gestational diabetes) during pregnancy and birthweight trends in a cohort of Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal women from the Northern Territory, Australia. [1] The authors report on the increase in rates over time in gestational diabetes (3.4% in 1987 to 13% in 2016) and pre-existing diabetes (0.6% in 1987 to 5.7% in 2016) in pregnant Aboriginal women.