Babies born to mothers with diabetes who had COVID-19 during pregnancy don’t appear to have significantly worse short-term health outcomes than babies whose mothers didn’t have COVID-19, according to a 2026 study of 669 births. Low blood sugar occurred in 35% of babies whose mothers had COVID-19 versus 19% of babies whose mothers didn’t, but both groups responded well to standard treatment like feeding and IV sugar. Gram Research analysis shows immediate feeding and blood sugar screening at 2 hours after birth are the most important protective measures.
A Gram Research analysis of 669 babies born to mothers with diabetes found that newborns face similar risks whether their mothers had COVID-19 during pregnancy or not. The main concern was low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) in newborns, which happened in about one-third of babies whose mothers had COVID-19 and about one-fifth of babies whose mothers didn’t. Most cases resolved quickly with feeding or IV sugar treatment. The study suggests that immediate feeding after birth and early blood sugar screening are the most important steps to protect these babies.
Key Statistics
A 2026 descriptive study of 669 newborns born to diabetic mothers found that 34.8% of babies whose mothers had COVID-19 developed low blood sugar compared to 18.6% of babies whose mothers didn’t have COVID-19, though this difference was not statistically significant.
Among 136 newborns with low blood sugar in the study, 105 required NICU admission, with most treated successfully using intravenous dextrose, and only 5 babies needing glucagon emergency medication.
The average NICU stay was 12.9 days for newborns whose diabetic mothers didn’t have COVID-19 and 7 days for those whose mothers did, suggesting similar or slightly shorter hospitalizations in the COVID-19 group.
Low blood sugar in newborns born to diabetic mothers typically appeared within the first hour after birth and resolved with early feeding, according to the 2026 study of 669 births at a Saudi Arabian medical center.
The Quick Take
- What they studied: Whether babies born to mothers with diabetes had different health problems if their mothers had COVID-19 during pregnancy compared to mothers without COVID-19.
- Who participated: 669 mothers with diabetes (including gestational diabetes, Type 1, and Type 2) who gave birth at a hospital in Saudi Arabia between 2020 and 2022. Only 23 mothers had COVID-19 at the time of delivery.
- Key finding: Babies whose mothers had COVID-19 were more likely to develop low blood sugar (35% versus 19%), but the difference wasn’t considered statistically significant, and both groups responded well to treatment.
- What it means for you: If you have diabetes and are pregnant, COVID-19 doesn’t appear to create dramatically worse outcomes for your baby compared to pregnancy without COVID-19. However, all babies born to diabetic mothers need careful monitoring for low blood sugar in the first hours after birth.
The Research Details
Researchers looked back at medical records from 669 mothers with diabetes who gave birth between January 2020 and December 2022 at King Saud University Medical City in Saudi Arabia. They divided the mothers into two groups: 23 who tested positive for COVID-19 at least 24 hours before delivery and 646 who tested negative. They then compared what happened to the babies in both groups during their first days of life, looking at problems like low blood sugar, how long babies stayed in the hospital, and whether they needed special care.
This type of study is called a “retrospective descriptive study,” which means researchers examined records that already existed rather than following mothers forward in time. The researchers weren’t trying to prove that one thing caused another; they were simply describing what they observed in each group and comparing the patterns.
The study focused on short-term outcomes—what happened to babies in their first days and weeks of life—rather than long-term health effects. Most mothers managed their diabetes through diet alone, which is important context for understanding the results.
This research matters because early in the COVID-19 pandemic, doctors weren’t sure whether the virus would cause extra problems for babies born to mothers with diabetes. By comparing outcomes between mothers with and without COVID-19, researchers could determine whether pregnant women with diabetes needed different care plans during the pandemic. Understanding these outcomes helps doctors make better decisions about monitoring and treating newborns.
This study has some important limitations to understand. The COVID-19-positive group was very small (only 23 mothers), which makes it harder to draw strong conclusions. The study only looked at one hospital in Saudi Arabia, so results might not apply everywhere. The researchers couldn’t control for all the differences between the two groups that might affect outcomes. However, the study does provide real-world information about what actually happened to these babies, which is valuable for doctors and families.
What the Results Show
Among the 669 babies born to diabetic mothers, low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) was the main health concern. In the group whose mothers didn’t have COVID-19, 128 babies (18.6%) developed low blood sugar. In the group whose mothers had COVID-19, 8 babies (34.8%) developed low blood sugar. While the percentage was higher in the COVID-19 group, the researchers found this difference wasn’t statistically significant—meaning it could have happened by chance given the small number of COVID-19 cases.
Most cases of low blood sugar appeared within the first hour after birth and resolved quickly with early feeding. Of the 136 babies who developed low blood sugar, 105 needed admission to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). Most were treated with intravenous dextrose (sugar water through an IV), and only five babies needed glucagon (an emergency medication that raises blood sugar). The average NICU stay was 12.9 days for babies whose mothers didn’t have COVID-19 and 7 days for babies whose mothers did.
One intrauterine fetal death occurred in the COVID-19-negative group, but no deaths occurred in the COVID-19-positive group. Overall, the researchers found no significant differences in short-term newborn outcomes between the two groups.
The study noted that most mothers managed their diabetes through diet alone rather than medication, which may have influenced the outcomes. The timing of low blood sugar was important: most cases appeared within the first hour after birth, suggesting that immediate feeding and close monitoring in that critical first hour are key to preventing serious problems. The fact that only five babies needed glucagon (an emergency medication) suggests that most cases responded well to simpler treatments like IV dextrose or feeding.
Earlier research had raised concerns that COVID-19 might cause new-onset diabetes or worsen blood sugar control in newborns through various biological mechanisms. This study suggests those concerns may not translate into dramatically worse short-term outcomes for babies born to diabetic mothers. The findings align with other research showing that while COVID-19 can affect blood sugar regulation, the effects on newborns may be manageable with standard care.
The biggest limitation is the very small number of mothers with COVID-19 (only 23 out of 669), which makes it hard to detect real differences if they exist. The study only included mothers from one hospital in Saudi Arabia, so results may not apply to other countries or populations. The researchers couldn’t randomly assign mothers to have or not have COVID-19, so they couldn’t control for all the differences between groups that might affect outcomes. The study only looked at short-term outcomes (days and weeks), not long-term health effects. Finally, the study didn’t measure how severe each mother’s COVID-19 infection was, which could affect outcomes.
The Bottom Line
For pregnant women with diabetes: Continue managing your diabetes as directed by your doctor. If you get COVID-19 during pregnancy, standard treatment and monitoring should continue. For healthcare providers: Ensure all newborns born to diabetic mothers receive blood sugar screening at 2 hours after birth and immediate feeding opportunities. These practices appear effective regardless of maternal COVID-19 status. Confidence level: Moderate (based on observational data from one hospital).
Pregnant women with any type of diabetes (Type 1, Type 2, or gestational diabetes) should be aware of these findings. Healthcare providers caring for diabetic pregnant women and their newborns should use this information to guide monitoring practices. Partners and family members supporting pregnant women with diabetes may find this reassuring. People without diabetes or pregnancy don’t need to apply these findings to their own situation.
Low blood sugar in newborns typically appears within the first hour after birth and resolves within hours to days with appropriate treatment. Most babies in this study stayed in the NICU for about 1-2 weeks. Long-term effects were not studied, so families should discuss long-term follow-up care with their pediatrician.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can COVID-19 during pregnancy cause diabetes in newborns?
A 2026 study of 669 newborns found no significant difference in low blood sugar outcomes between babies whose diabetic mothers had COVID-19 and those who didn’t. While COVID-19 can affect blood sugar regulation, standard monitoring and feeding prevented serious complications in both groups.
What should happen immediately after a baby is born to a diabetic mother?
Newborns should receive blood sugar screening at 2 hours after birth and be offered feeding as soon as possible. The study shows low blood sugar typically appears within the first hour and resolves quickly with early feeding or IV treatment if needed.
Is it safe to be pregnant with diabetes during COVID-19?
A 2026 study of 669 births found no significant differences in short-term newborn outcomes between diabetic mothers with and without COVID-19. Continue managing your diabetes as directed and notify your doctor immediately if you develop COVID-19 symptoms for appropriate monitoring.
How long do babies with low blood sugar need to stay in the hospital?
In the study, babies whose diabetic mothers had COVID-19 averaged 7 days in the NICU, while those whose mothers didn’t have COVID-19 averaged 12.9 days. Most cases resolved with feeding or IV dextrose treatment within days.
What treatments work best for newborn low blood sugar?
Early feeding is the first-line treatment and resolved most cases in the study. If feeding isn’t enough, IV dextrose (sugar water) is standard treatment. Only 5 out of 136 babies needed glucagon, an emergency medication, suggesting most cases respond to simpler interventions.
Want to Apply This Research?
- If you’re pregnant with diabetes, track daily blood sugar readings, medication/diet changes, and any COVID-19 symptoms. After delivery, log your newborn’s feeding times, blood sugar screening results, and NICU stay duration to share with your pediatrician.
- Set phone reminders for blood sugar testing at consistent times each day. Create a simple log of what you eat and how your blood sugar responds. If you have COVID-19 symptoms, immediately notify your healthcare provider and increase monitoring frequency.
- Maintain a continuous log of blood sugar patterns throughout pregnancy. After birth, ensure your newborn receives screening at the 2-hour mark and document feeding times and any low blood sugar episodes. Share this data with your pediatrician at follow-up visits.
This article summarizes research findings and should not replace professional medical advice. Pregnant women with diabetes should continue working with their healthcare providers for personalized care. If you have COVID-19 or suspect you do, contact your doctor immediately. Newborn care decisions should always be made in consultation with your pediatrician or neonatologist. This study examined short-term outcomes only; long-term effects were not assessed. Individual outcomes may vary based on personal health factors.
This research translation is published by Gram Research, the science division of Gram, an AI-powered nutrition tracking app.