Effect of glycemic status of mother on newborns blood cell indices

Background: Diabetes is a common endocrine disorder, especially in urban areas. 1-3% of pregnant women experience glucose intolerance. Normally, fetal hemoglobin switches from F to A at 22-34 weeks gestation. In infants of diabetic mothers, this switch is delayed, possibly due to insulin's effect on gene expression and prolonged fetal exposure to hyperglycemia. Methods: Cord blood samples from 40 neonates born to diabetic mothers were analyzed and categorized into two groups: D1 and D2. Group D1 included mothers with glycemic levels between 100-150 mg/dL, while Group D2 comprised those with blood glucose levels exceeding 150 mg/dL. The data was processed using the ABXMICROSot analyzer, and statistical analysis was performed using Levene’s test to assess the equality of variances. Result: A significant reduction in blood cell count was observed in the cord blood of neonates born to diabetic mothers, with higher values recorded in Group D2 compared to Group D1. Discussion: IL-1 and IL-6 are important immune regulators, with IL-6 enhancing the effects of other cytokines and promoting stem cell differentiation. In diabetic pregnancies, maternal immunosuppression may impair neonatal IL-6 activation, leading to altered blood cell counts and reduced hematopoietic function. Additionally, reduced extracellular fluid in these infants causes hemoconcentration, giving the impression of elevated cell counts due to fluid loss rather than an actual increase in cells.