ORIGINAL PAPER
The impact of maternal gestational diabetes on a child’s psychomotor development up to the age of 2 – from a delayed start to accelerated growth
1
Clinical Department of Neonatology, Clinical Center of Gynecology, Obstetrics and Neonatology, Institute of Medical Sciences, University of Opole, Opole, Poland
2
Department of Physiotherapy, Faculty of Physical Education and Physiotherapy, Opole University of Technology, Opole, Poland
3
Clinical Research Support Center, University Clinical Hospital, Opole, Poland
4
Department of Physical Education and Sport, Faculty of Physical Education and Physiotherapy, Opole University of Technology, Opole, Poland
These authors had equal contribution to this work
Submission date: 2025-05-16
Final revision date: 2025-07-24
Acceptance date: 2025-07-30
Publication date: 2025-12-15
Corresponding author
Andrzej Tukiendorf
Andrzej Tukiendorf, Department of Physical Education and Sport, Faculty of Physical Education and Physiotherapy, Opole University of Technology, Opole, Poland
Andrzej Tukiendorf, Department of Physical Education and Sport, Faculty of Physical Education and Physiotherapy, Opole University of Technology, Opole, Poland
Pediatr Pol 2025;61(4):307-315
KEYWORDS
gestational diabetes mellitusD-scorepsychomotor development of childrenglobal scale of early development
TOPICS
ABSTRACT
Introduction:
The psychomotor development of children born to mothers with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) has been extensively studied, yielding mixed results. This study aimed to statistically evaluate the impact of GDM on the psychomotor development of children up to two years of age in a local Polish population, using the global scale of early development (GSED) – a modern assessment tool recommended by the World Health Organization.
Material and methods:
The analysis included 662 children (aged 1–24 months) with complete clinical data participating in the regional program entitled Coordinated and comprehensive family support in specialist counseling, prevention, diagnosis, and elimination of developmental irregularities in children up to 2 years of age in the Opole Voivodship, Poland. Psychomotor development was assessed using milestones from the GSED and summarized using the unidimensional developmental score (D-score). Developmental outcomes were expressed as D-scores and standardized developmental scores/development-for-age Z-scores (DAZ). Changes in DAZ over time by gestational age and presence of GDM were analyzed using multilevel modeling.
Results:
Among preterm infants, those born to mothers with GDM initially showed delayed psychomotor development; however, they exhibited a significantly faster developmental trajectory (p < 0.05) compared to full-term children. The findings indicate a dynamic increase in DAZ among preterm infants exposed to GDM, suggesting a compensatory “catch-up” in development over time.
Conclusions:
Offspring of mothers with GDM demonstrate an early developmental delay followed by a phase of accelerated growth, in contrast to the offspring of mothers without GDM, whose development follows a more stable trajectory. These findings underscore the importance of accounting for gestational age when evaluating the impact of GDM on child development.
The psychomotor development of children born to mothers with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) has been extensively studied, yielding mixed results. This study aimed to statistically evaluate the impact of GDM on the psychomotor development of children up to two years of age in a local Polish population, using the global scale of early development (GSED) – a modern assessment tool recommended by the World Health Organization.
Material and methods:
The analysis included 662 children (aged 1–24 months) with complete clinical data participating in the regional program entitled Coordinated and comprehensive family support in specialist counseling, prevention, diagnosis, and elimination of developmental irregularities in children up to 2 years of age in the Opole Voivodship, Poland. Psychomotor development was assessed using milestones from the GSED and summarized using the unidimensional developmental score (D-score). Developmental outcomes were expressed as D-scores and standardized developmental scores/development-for-age Z-scores (DAZ). Changes in DAZ over time by gestational age and presence of GDM were analyzed using multilevel modeling.
Results:
Among preterm infants, those born to mothers with GDM initially showed delayed psychomotor development; however, they exhibited a significantly faster developmental trajectory (p < 0.05) compared to full-term children. The findings indicate a dynamic increase in DAZ among preterm infants exposed to GDM, suggesting a compensatory “catch-up” in development over time.
Conclusions:
Offspring of mothers with GDM demonstrate an early developmental delay followed by a phase of accelerated growth, in contrast to the offspring of mothers without GDM, whose development follows a more stable trajectory. These findings underscore the importance of accounting for gestational age when evaluating the impact of GDM on child development.
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