Can diabetes harm the infant during pregnancy?

Sure, diabetes is not an innocuous disease- it can harm both the mother and the baby. Some of the complications a diabetic mother can develop are life threatening.

Data indicate that both deaths and stillbirths are 2-3 times as common in infants born to diabetic mothers. In addition, these babies also have a very high risk of developing numerous congenital problems. Further babies born to diabetic mothers are always big and thus delivery can be difficult and associated with a variety of problems. Later in life, these babies also have a greater likelihood of developing high blood pressure and diabetes. The mother is also more prone to developing high blood pressure and eclampsia.

Finally, during the pregnancy, the mother can develop severe bloating, gastroparesis and constipation often leading to poor absorption of vital nutrients from the stomach.