<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>An Australian university study has found that gestational diabetes can be linked to ADHD and autism in children.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The research, a meta-analysis of 48 global studies encompassing over 9 million pregnancies, indicates a significant correlation between the condition and neurodevelopmental disorders.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The study revealed that children exposed to gestational diabetes in utero face a 36 per cent increased risk of developing ADHD and a 56 per cent higher risk of autism. </span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/springtime-sun-coming-for-australia/8b0867cf-ced0-4699-9339-b7e227722086"><strong><span>Mass power outages, severe weather warnings as destructive winds pick up</span></strong></a><strong><span></span></strong></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"It's an association," Diabetes Australia chief medical officer Professor David Simmons said. </span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"So that doesn't mean that it's causal. It just means that there is this increased likelihood."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Researchers said further study is still needed to fully examine the link.</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/national/gestational-diabetes-link-autism-adhd-study/73d01edd-c159-46cb-9c81-805e2adc6fd1" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Longer follow-ups across childhood are also needed to examine whether these associations persist or progress further to other worse outcomes," presenting author Caitlin Por from Monash University said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Gestational diabetes, the fastest-growing type of diabetes in Australia, affects almost one in five pregnant women. </span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>While routine testing typically occurs between 24 and 28 weeks of gestation, experts suggest that detection as early as 10 weeks could help with treatment. </span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"It'd be great to be able to prevent gestational diabetes, otherwise, we certainly want to try to diagnose it and find it as early as possible," Simmons said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/kelly-wilkinson-inquest-family-seeks-answers-after-mother-stabbed-burnt-gold-coast-queensland-news/b40e7c20-f1df-42ad-9caf-d90a73a2cfcc"><strong><span>Family seeks answers after Gold Coast mum stabbed, burnt to death</span></strong></a><strong><span></span></strong></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The study noted that it's not clear how gestational diabetes affects a child's brain development but said there are several possible explanations.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"There are increasing concerns about the neurotoxic effects of gestational diabetes on the developing brain," lead senior author Assistant Professor Dr Ling-Jun Li from the National University of Singapore said. </span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Our findings underscore the urgency of addressing this significant public health concern that poses substantial cognitive dysfunction risks for both mothers and offspring."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Inflammation, stress in the body's cells, and reduced oxygen supply were cited as factors that could play a role in how the baby develops in the womb and then later affect the child's development. </span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"(We) just need to be mindful or checking our children if we are concerned something is wrong," Jane Robinson from Diabetes Victoria said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"But there is no need for alarm."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>She added that remaining physically active, eating a healthy diet and keeping a health weight range when preparing for pregnancy are important in helping prevent gestational diabetes.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><em><span>This article was produced with the assistance of</span></em><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/technology/9express/16480c33-636a-461f-9c4f-d0e2522c722a"><em><span>9ExPress</span></em></a><em><span>.</span></em></div></div>