Cord Blood Test Predicts Newborn’s Risk of Developing Type 2 Diabetes

Children born to mothers with gestational diabetes are at heightened risk of developing the disease later in life, but identifying exactly which children will be most affected has been difficult. A new study now shows that genetic testing of cord blood at birth can provide an early and accurate assessment of future diabetes risk.

In the study, researchers at Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute (Melbourne, Australia), in collaboration with The Chinese University of Hong Kong (Hong Kong), analyzed DNA in cord blood from babies born to mothers with high blood sugar during pregnancy. The research team identified early epigenetic markers linked to insulin resistance and beta-cell dysfunction. These markers act as “notes” on DNA, influencing how genes turn on or off without altering the genetic code itself.

The study assessed children and young people aged 7, 11, and 18 years, finding that epigenetic markers in cord blood accurately predicted the risk of type 2 diabetes throughout development. Compared to traditional markers like fat mass or C-peptide, the signatures improved the prediction of beta-cell dysfunction by 79%. The findings, published in the Diabetes Journal, provide the first longitudinal evidence that epigenetic testing at birth can forecast diabetes risk decades in advance.

Such insights could revolutionize preventive care by enabling interventions long before symptoms appear. Lifestyle or dietary adjustments introduced in early childhood could lower risk and protect against metabolic dysfunction later in life. This technique also opens the door for adding cord blood testing to neonatal screening panels, creating opportunities to identify high-risk children immediately after birth.

The study further highlights that even mothers with glucose levels below the threshold for gestational diabetes may pass on risk to their babies. This suggests a need for earlier and more comprehensive maternal screening during pregnancy, coupled with education on a healthy diet and lifestyle to reduce risk. Researchers now aim to conduct clinical trials before translating the test into routine practice.

“This research points to a future where we can identify a newborn’s risk of type 2 diabetes at birth and take steps immediately to reduce that risk,” said Professor Sam El-Osta, co-lead of the study. "It changes the way we think about when, and how early, we can intervene to prevent chronic disease in childhood.”

Related Links:
Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute
The Chinese University of Hong Kong