Children of insulin-dependent diabetic patients. A determination of status

We report on 143 newborns of mothers with insulin dependent diabetes during pregnancy. The mean birth weight was 3.091 (+/- 619) g at a mean gestational age of 38.4 (+/- 2) weeks. Neonatal morbidity was associated with the disease class, insulin levels in the amniotic fluid, urine and cord blood; and especially persistent fetal hyperinsulinism as indicated by repeatedly high amniotic fluid insulin levels during pregnancy. One infant died (neonatal mortality 0.69%) of a severe cardiac malformation combined with a caudal regression syndrome. This was the only major malformation in the group.