Prenatal, Obstetric and Perinatal Factors Associated With the Development of Childhood-Onset Type 2 Diabetes

Abstract Objective To explore associations among prenatal, obstetric and perinatal factors and the development of childhood-onset type 2 diabetes. Methods This retrospective, case-control study utilized administrative data housed at the Manitoba Centre for Health Policy. De-identified health records were examined from a sample of 270 children (aged 10 to 17 years at time of diagnosis) with type 2 diabetes and 1341 children without type 2 diabetes matched for age, sex and geographic location. Patients and control subjects were linked to their de-identified biological mothers' health records. Prenatal, obstetric and perinatal factors were investigated. Univariate and multivariable conditional regression analyses were conducted to identify key factors associated with the development of type 2 diabetes in children. Results The mean age at diagnosis was 13.1 years, and 61% of patients were girls. The majority (71.1%) of children with type 2 diabetes resided in rural areas. Exposure to maternal pregestational diabetes increased the odds of childhood-onset type 2 diabetes nearly 6-fold, and exposure to gestational diabetes carried a 4-fold increased risk. Breastfeeding was found to be protective, decreasing the risk of childhood-onset type 2 diabetes (odds ratio = 0.52, 95% confidence interval = 0.36–0.74). Low maternal income was significantly associated with development of childhood-onset type 2 diabetes (odds ratio = 6.67, 95% confidence interval = 3.01–14.79). Conclusions Health and social policies and programs are needed to provide financial, educational and clinical resources that target women whose pregnancies are affected by poverty, type 2 diabetes or gestational diabetes. Breastfeeding should be encouraged to aid in the prevention of childhood-onset type 2 diabetes.