that's interesting, but would sugar provide enough to increase overall size, or just increase size of fat deposit(With no protein etc.)?
Untreated diabetic mothers generally have big fat babies. They are often induced at 38 or 39 weeks so the baby doesn't have a chance to get that big. There are risks to having a large baby.
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http://www.lpch.org/DiseaseHealthInfo/HealthLibrary/hrnewborn/diabtmom.html
"The mother's excess amounts of blood glucose are transferred to the fetus during pregnancy. This causes the baby's body to secrete increased amounts of insulin, which results in increased tissue and fat deposits. The infant of a diabetic mother (IDM) is often larger than expected for the gestational age.
The infant of a diabetic mother may have higher risks for serious problems during pregnancy and at birth. Problems during pregnancy may include increased risk of birth defects and stillbirth. It is thought that poor control of blood glucose is linked to the development of congenital abnormalities. These may include abnormalities in the formation of the heart, brain spinal cord, urinary tract, and gastrointestinal system.
Unlike insulin-dependent diabetes, gestational diabetes generally does not cause birth defects."...."
A newborn infant of a diabetic mother may develop one, or more, of the following:
hypoglycemia
Hypoglycemia refers to low blood glucose in the baby immediately after delivery. This problem occurs if the mother's blood glucose levels have been consistently high causing the fetus to have a high level of insulin in its circulation. After delivery, the baby continues to have a high insulin level, but it no longer has the high level of glucose from its mother, resulting in the newborn's blood glucose level becoming very low. The baby's blood glucose level is checked after birth, and if the level is too low, it may be necessary to give the baby glucose intravenousl
.macrosomia
Macrosomia refers to a baby that is considerably larger than normal. All of the nutrients the fetus receives come directly from the mother's blood. If the maternal blood has too much glucose, the pancreas of the fetus senses the high glucose levels and produces more insulin in an attempt to use this glucose. The fetus converts the extra glucose to fat. Even when the mother has gestational diabetes, the fetus is able to produce all the insulin it needs. The combination of high blood glucose levels from the mother and high insulin levels in the fetus results in large deposits of fat which causes the fetus to grow excessively large.
birth injury
Birth injury may occur due to the baby's large size and difficulty being born.respiratory distress (difficulty breathing)
Too much insulin in a baby's system due to diabetes can delay surfactant production which is needed for lung maturation."
