ABSTRACT
A1 B Infants born to mothers with diabetes mellitus have a number of medical problems, principally related to their exposure to a hyperglycaemic environment before birth. Maternal hyperglycaemia leads to fetal hyperinsulinism, which acts as a growth factor producing fetal macrosomia. Hyperinsulinism also causes inactivation of the surfactant system increasing the incidence of respiratory distress syndrome. The fetal hyperinsulinism after birth leads to neonatal hypoglycaemia. Maternal microvascular disease can produce infants small for gestational age.
