Overweight and increased diabetes susceptibility in neonatally insulin-treated adult rats.

Objective: Since the offspring of gestational diabetic mothers (GD) is at increased risk to develop obesity and diabetogenic disturbances later in life, while pathophysiological mechanisms responsible are unclear, to investigate long-term consequences of neonatal hyperinsulinism occurring characteristically in GD offspring.

Methods: Newborn Wistar rats received daily subcutaneous injections of a long-acting insulin from the 8th to 11th day of life (IRI), while in controls (CO) NaCl was applied. Body weight was recorded throughout life.