Diabetic mother, child at risk of birth defects

The risk of congenital malformations of a baby increases 4 times if the woman has diabetes. These defects include congenital heart disease or spina bifida.

>>>Software 'monitoring' diabetes

Both type 1 diabetes mellitus, usually occur in young people, and type 2, largely because excessive dieting leads to blood sugar disorders. Consequences for pregnant women are causing problems during pregnancy such as birth defects, miscarriages or children born with overweight.

Mothers with diabetes will increase their risk of birth defects.

Researchers at Newcastle University analyzed data of 401,149 pregnant women between 1996 and 2008, including 1677 people with diabetes. The results showed that the level of childbirth with congenital malformations in pregnant women who are not sick is 19/1000, while for infected people is 72/1000.

The report said that the amount of sugar in the pre-pregnancy period is the most important causative factor that can be controlled. The lead researcher Dr. Ruth Bell told the BBC : 'A lot of malformations occur in the first 4-6 weeks'.

However, she also said: 'The good news is that with the help of medical professionals before and during pregnancy, most pregnant women with diabetes produce healthy babies.'

According to Dr. Iain Frame, director of the British Diabetes Foundation: 'We need to send a message to women with diabetes that if they are trying to have a baby, they should go to a doctor for advice. things to do before becoming pregnant '.