CDC Study Links Pre-Pregnancy Diabetes to Increased Birth Defect Risk

Women diagnosed with diabetes prior to pregnancy face a three to four times greater risk of having a child with one or more birth defects, according to a new study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The research appears in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology.

The study compared mothers with pre-existing diabetes to those without the condition. Researchers found a significant correlation between the presence of pre-pregnancy diabetes and the occurrence of various birth defects in offspring.

The CDC conducted the study to better understand factors contributing to birth defects and to inform preventative measures. The agency intends to use the findings to improve guidance for women with diabetes planning to become pregnant.