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Diabetes 'increases birth defect risk'

NHS Choices Behind the Headlines, 2012

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Controlling blood sugar during pregnancy is extremely important
“Diabetic mothers-to-be have high risk of giving birth to children with congenital abnormality,” The Guardian said today.
The news is based on UK research that compared the rates of birth defects in women with and without diabetes.
It found that about 7% of pregnancies in women with diabetes were affected by birth defects that were not caused by problems with the number or structure of the chromosomes.
The study also found that women who have worse control over their blood sugar at around the time of conception were at greater risk.
It has been known for some time that diabetes in pregnancy is associated with a higher risk of various complications, and this large study provides further evidence on the link between diabetes and birth defects.
UK medical guidance already addresses this risk, and recommends that from adolescence onwards, women with diabetes should be routinely given information on the importance of planning any future pregnancies and on getting specialist care and advice when they decide to conceive.
Women with very poor control of their diabetes are also advised not to become pregnant until until their blood sugar control has improved.
However, this study provides yet another reminder that diabetic women who are thinking about becoming pregnant should discuss their options with their doctor first.
It was funded by Diabetes UK, the Department of Health, the Healthcare Quality Improvement Partnership, and the four primary care trusts in north-east England.