Diabetes and obesity in the offspring of Pima Indian women with diabetes during pregnancy

Abstract

Objective: To review the long-term effects of the diabetic pregnancy on the offspring among the Pima Indians of Arizona.

Research design and methods: Studies published by the Phoenix Epidemiology and Clinical Research branch of the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, since the inception of the longitudinal diabetes studies in 1965 were reviewed. In addition, pertinent studies from other centers, mentioned as references in these publications, were reviewed. As far as possible, all original articles and abstracts on this aspect of the Pima Indian studies were discussed.

Results: The offspring of women who had diabetes during pregnancy, on average, were more obese and had higher glucose concentrations and more diabetes than the offspring of women who developed diabetes after pregnancy or who remained nondiabetic. Although no new analyses were attempted, several of the older publications were updated by repeating the analyses on later, expanded data sets.

Conclusions: The diabetic pregnancy, in addition to its effects on the newborn, has effects on the subsequent growth and glucose metabolism of the offspring. These effects are in addition to genetically determined traits.