An infant of a diabetic mother is a baby born to a mother who has diabetes. The phrase specifically refers to a baby who is born to a mother who had persistently high blood sugar (glucose) levels during pregnancy. The infant is usually large for gestational age. Other symptoms may include:
* Puffy face
* Newborn jaundice
* Blue or mottled skin color, rapid heart rate, rapid breathing (signs of heart failure)
* Poor feeding, lethargy, weak cry (signs of severe low blood sugar)
* Tremors or shaking shortly after birth
* Reddish appearance
All infants born to mothers with diabetes should be tested for low blood sugar (hypoglycemia), even if they have no symptoms. If an infant had one episode of low blood sugar, tests to check blood sugars will be done over several days. This will continue until the infant’s blood sugar remains stable with normal feedings. Early feeding may prevent low blood sugar in mild cases. Persistent low blood sugar is treated with glucose given through a vein.
Prevention of the complications associated with an infant of a diabetic mother requires supportive care of the mother throughout the pregnancy. Good control of blood sugars and and early recognition of gestational diabetes can prevent many of the problems associated with this condition. Careful monitoring of the infant in the first 24 hours following birth may prevent complications due to low blood sugar.
