How High Blood Sugar in Pregnancy Can Affect Your Baby's Heart
April 02, 2018
Having high blood sugar in early pregnancy could put your baby at higher risk for heart defects, according to a new study published in the Journal of Pediatrics.
Having diabetes during pregnancy is a known risk for heart defects in newborns. But this study looked at the blood sugar levels of more than 19,000 pregnant women without diabetes.
High Glucose Readings Is a Problem, Too
The researchers found women with higher blood glucose readings early in their pregnancies were more likely to have a baby with a heart defect. For every increase of 10 milligrams per deciliter in blood sugar levels, the risk increased by 8 percent.
Checking blood sugar early in pregnancy may help doctors screen for possible heart problems and lead to earlier treatment.
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