In the event of gestational diabetes, the pancreas works overtime to produce insulin, but the insulin does not lower the blood glucose levels. Diabetes can have an impact on the developing baby throughout the pregnancy. The danger is that even though insulin does not cross the placenta, glucose and other nutrients do. The blood glucose goes through the placenta resulting in giving the baby high glucose levels.
This results in the baby’s pancreas producing extra insulin to neutralize this influx of blood glucose. The baby does not need all the energy to develop and grow, so the extra is stored as fat. [8] | | | | | | | | |
