CGM Data May Help Predict Low Blood Sugar in Newborns

What This Study Found

Researchers looked at data from 118 pregnant women with gestational diabetes to find out which factors raise the risk of neonatal hypoglycemia — a condition where a newborn's blood sugar drops to a dangerous level after birth. They found that mothers with a higher BMI, high blood pressure, or a family history of diabetes were more likely to have a baby with low blood sugar. Continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) data collected in the last 90 days of pregnancy was also linked to several newborn health outcomes.

Why This Matters to You

If you have gestational diabetes, understanding your personal risk factors can help you and your care team take action before your baby arrives. This study suggests that the data collected from a CGM device — worn on your body throughout pregnancy — could eventually help doctors predict and prevent health problems in newborns.

Here are the key risk factors the study identified:

• High BMI: Women in the higher BMI group were 3.59 times more likely to have a baby with low blood sugar compared to women with a lower BMI.
• High blood pressure (hypertension): This more than doubled the risk of neonatal hypoglycemia (odds ratio: 2.13).
• Cesarean delivery: This was also linked to a higher risk (odds ratio: 2.05), though the connection may be indirect.
• Family history of diabetes: This raised risk by about 43%, though that finding was less statistically certain.

What the Study Did

The researchers used a type of computer modeling called a Bayesian network. Think of it like a map that shows how different health factors connect to each other. They fed the model data from the STEADY SUGAR clinical trial, including CGM readings, medical history, medication use, and delivery information. The model then showed which factors most strongly predicted low blood sugar in newborns.

An Important Note on Ethnic Disparities

The study also found that Black (Afro-American) patients had nearly three times the odds of having higher blood sugar levels compared to other groups. This finding highlights real and serious gaps in how well current care approaches work for everyone equally — and points to the need for more personalized diabetes management during pregnancy.

What This Means Going Forward

This research is still early-stage. The study included only 118 women, so the findings need to be confirmed in larger groups. But the results do suggest that CGM data — combined with a mother's personal health profile — could one day be used to build smarter, more personalized tools for managing gestational diabetes and protecting newborn health.

If you are pregnant and managing gestational diabetes, wearing a CGM throughout your pregnancy gives your care team a detailed picture of your glucose patterns. That information, along with your full health history, could help guide decisions that protect both you and your baby.

At MDS Diabetes, we carry a range of CGM systems designed to support women managing diabetes during pregnancy. Accurate, real-time glucose data is one of the most powerful tools you and your care team can have. Explore CGM options at mdsdiabetes.com to find the right fit for your needs.

Full Citation

Cappon, Catanuso, Tavazzi (2025). Exploring Relationships Between Maternal Characteristics, Continuous Glucose Monitoring Data, and Neonatal Hypoglycemia in Gestational Diabetes Pregnancies Using Probabilistic Modeling. Journal of Diabetes Science and Technology. PMID: 41211830. DOI: 10.1177/19322968251388107