What is a primary cause of hyperinsulinemia in infants?

The primary cause of hyperinsulinemia in infants is often associated with being an infant of a diabetic mother. When a mother has diabetes, particularly if her blood sugar levels are not well-managed during pregnancy, her infant can be exposed to higher levels of glucose in utero. This exposure stimulates the fetal pancreas to produce excess insulin in response to the high glucose levels. As a result, after birth, this can lead to hyperinsulinemia, which is characterized by an abnormally high level of insulin in the blood.

Understanding this mechanism highlights the importance of managing maternal diabetes to reduce the risk of complications for the newborn, including hyperinsulinemia and associated conditions such as hypoglycemia after birth. The other options may contribute to different health issues but are not as directly associated with hyperinsulinemia as being the infant of a diabetic mother.