Malnutrition at the stage of pregnancy can lead to the birth of children who are more prone to diabetes when they grow up, says a recent study. According to group of Chinese and British scientists in Beijing, who were studying the onset of diabetes in developing countries, found this interesting correlation in 627 grown children and their mothers. A strong correlation was found between undernourished mothers and children who go on to develop insulin resistance syndrome, a condition that precedes diabetes. According to the researchers, this can become a problem when diets improve. The combination of difficulty in metabolising fat and rising caloric intake could play a significant role in the increasing rates of diabetes in developing countries, the researchers claim ( Annals in Internal Medicine , Vol 131, No 4).