According to a study conducted by U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, women who have diabetes before becoming pregnant are three to four times more likely  to giving birth a baby with at least one birth defect.

This is the first study of its kind that classify a wide range of birth defects that are linked with pre-pregnancy diagnosis of 1 or type2 diabetes, i.e., brain and spine defects, heart defects, oral clefts, limb deficiencies, kidney and gastrointestinal tract defects.

The research has been published in American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology.

Lead Author of the study Dr. Adolfo Correa, who is an epidemiologist at the CDC’s National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities, says in this connection “This growing link between diabetes and a lot of birth defects shows how important it is for the women to receive the best possible preconception care and particularly for those who are found with diabetes.”

“Effective and early management of the disease is a matter of utmost importance for women to avoid their babies not only from birth defects but also from many other health complications,” Correa added.

Furthermore, it is also essential for women with pre-pregnancy obesity to consider preconception care as obesity is the biggest known risk factor for diabetes and birth defects, the reaserchers suggested.

Data on more than 30,000 people seen at nine birth defects centers around the country were analyzed by the researchers for the study.

The background information in the CDC news release suggests that one out of 33 infants is affected by the birth defects and these are the leading cause of infant death. Though risk factors for some birth defects have been identified, the causes of lot birth defects are unknown.

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