Out-Of-Control Diabetes Causes Birth Defects
Pre-Conception Medical Counseling Can Get Women On-Track For A Healthy Pregnancy
Posted: 10:26 pm CST October 31, 2005Updated: 12:02 pm CST November 1, 2005
MADISON, Wis. -- Tuesday marks the start of Prematurity Awareness Month.
Diabetes And PregnancyStatistics show diabetic women are more likely to have premature babies and babies with birth defects.That's why doctors want to get the message out to women that diabetes needs to be under control before conception, or babies could develop birth defects.Becky Sellers never thought she'd have her own children.The 31-year-old mother-to-be is due Nov. 7."I've been diabetic for more than 26 years," said Sellers.Sellers' baby is moving normally with a strong and regular heartbeat because she took extra measures before she got pregnant.Sellers spent a year and a half before her pregnancy working to get her blood sugar level lower than ever before.She controlled her blood sugar level with an insulin pump."If somebody's diabetes is not well controlled their chance of having a baby with a major birth defect is very seriously increasing – at the rate of 20 to 25 percent," said Dr. Dinesh Shah.Ultrasound images show Sellers' baby girl doing well.But without the pre-conception measures the first-time mother-to-be was at risk for a baby with Spina Bifida or Anencephaly, where the brain does not grow.Both defects are linked to the development of the neural tube that forms the brain and spinal cord of the embryo."Formation of the neural tube is actually occurred by the time a woman finds out she's actually pregnant," said Shah."I wanted to be on top of it," said Sellers. "I wanted to give our baby the best chance we could. And, give me the best chance of getting through this without any complications."Tests show there are no complications for Sellers or her baby, which she's named Mary – all because she got her Type 1 diabetes under control before she conceived."I don't know that in history of mankind, medicine has done things that make such an extraordinary difference in the life of a human being so directly," said Shah.Shah also told News 3 that any diabetic female of reproductive age, whether or not they intend to become pregnant, should be educated on the risks of conceiving before their blood sugars are under control.Doctors also advise diabetic women to consider pre-conception medical counseling.
Diabetes And PregnancyStatistics show diabetic women are more likely to have premature babies and babies with birth defects.That's why doctors want to get the message out to women that diabetes needs to be under control before conception, or babies could develop birth defects.Becky Sellers never thought she'd have her own children.The 31-year-old mother-to-be is due Nov. 7."I've been diabetic for more than 26 years," said Sellers.Sellers' baby is moving normally with a strong and regular heartbeat because she took extra measures before she got pregnant.Sellers spent a year and a half before her pregnancy working to get her blood sugar level lower than ever before.She controlled her blood sugar level with an insulin pump."If somebody's diabetes is not well controlled their chance of having a baby with a major birth defect is very seriously increasing – at the rate of 20 to 25 percent," said Dr. Dinesh Shah.Ultrasound images show Sellers' baby girl doing well.But without the pre-conception measures the first-time mother-to-be was at risk for a baby with Spina Bifida or Anencephaly, where the brain does not grow.Both defects are linked to the development of the neural tube that forms the brain and spinal cord of the embryo."Formation of the neural tube is actually occurred by the time a woman finds out she's actually pregnant," said Shah."I wanted to be on top of it," said Sellers. "I wanted to give our baby the best chance we could. And, give me the best chance of getting through this without any complications."Tests show there are no complications for Sellers or her baby, which she's named Mary – all because she got her Type 1 diabetes under control before she conceived."I don't know that in history of mankind, medicine has done things that make such an extraordinary difference in the life of a human being so directly," said Shah.Shah also told News 3 that any diabetic female of reproductive age, whether or not they intend to become pregnant, should be educated on the risks of conceiving before their blood sugars are under control.Doctors also advise diabetic women to consider pre-conception medical counseling.Copyright 2006 by Channel 3000. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
