Certified Diabetes Educator Practice Exam

Congenital malformations are a complication that is not typically increased among offspring of women with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). While it is true that GDM can lead to a variety of risks and complications in offspring, research specifically points out that congenital malformations are more commonly associated with pre-existing diabetes rather than gestational diabetes.

In contrast, conditions such as neonatal hypoglycemia, shoulder dystocia, and macrosomia are well-documented complications linked to pregnancies affected by GDM. Neonatal hypoglycemia occurs due to the infant producing excess insulin in response to maternal hyperglycemia. Shoulder dystocia can arise when an overweight infant is delivered, reflecting the risk of macrosomia—an often-seen outcome in GDM cases, where the baby is larger than average. Therefore, while GDM presents several risks, congenital malformations are not prominently associated with it compared to these other complications, making this the correct distinction.