Nurture :: pre-term birth and risk of later diabetes

Preterm birth and the risk of later diabetes

Babies born prematurely often have reduced insulin sensitivity at age 5 – 10 years, and this means they have a greater chance of developing diabetes in later life. Lesley McCowan, Robyn North and Paul Hofman are undertaking a case control study of children born prematurely to women participating in the SCOPE study. They will assess body composition at 6 weeks of age and collect data on diet, activity and growth over the first five years of life. Insulin sensitivity will be assessed in later childhood to determine the contributing factors. This knowledge will help mothers of preterm babies minimise the risk of adult onset diabetes.

To read about the SCOPE study, please click here

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pregnancy complications current projects

preventing late pregnancy complications suppressing prelabour contractions understanding the causes of stillbirth investigating the causes of preeclampsia improving antenatal genetic diagnosis pre-term birth and risk of later diabetes analysis of amniotic fluid to predict preterm labour cervical characteristics may predict preterm labour understanding the causes of perinatal and maternal deaths preventing respiratory distress syndrome in preterm babies