How diabetes in pregnancy may be linked to epilepsy in babies

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Source: STAT News

Original: https://www.statnews.com/2026/02/04/health-news-diabetes-in-pregnancy-epilepsy-i...

Published: Wed, 04 Feb 2026 12:53:39 +0000

Diabetes in pregnancy, including gestational diabetes, type 1 and type 2 diabetes, is associated with an increased risk of neurological disorders in the offspring, including epilepsy[2]. A study from Taiwan following 877,233 children born between 2004 and 2008 found that type 1 diabetes had the greatest impact on the incidence of neurological disorders, followed by type 2 diabetes and gestational diabetes[2]. Type 1 diabetes in pregnancy was associated with an increased risk of epilepsy in children, type 2 diabetes was associated with epilepsy and other disorders including autism and attention deficit disorder, while gestational diabetes increased the risk of autism, attention deficit disorder, and developmental delay[2]. It is thought that prolonged exposure to hyperglycemia before and during pregnancy may increase the likelihood of epilepsy in newborns[1]. The mechanisms by which diabetes in pregnancy affects the risk of epilepsy are not yet fully understood and further research is needed[1].