There’s a lot to worry about when you first become pregnant – and unfortunately, there are as many different answers as there are questions. What vitamins do I really need? Should I not have any coffee at all? What if I drank a glass of wine at a party before I knew I was pregnant?
But many women don’t realize there’s another hazard they should be warned about: their blood sugar.
A recent British study sheds new light on the relationship between birth defects and diabetes. The study, which examined 401,000 pregnancies over a period of 12 years, found that nearly 7% of children of diabetics suffered some form of birth defect – a rate 3.8 times higher than in non-diabetic women.
More worryingly, birth defects were more likely when the blood glucose levels were high at the time of conception – meaning undiagnosed diabetics with elevated glucose levels would be unaware of the risks to their child even as he was conceived.
Until the precise relationship between gestational diabetes and birth defects is known, a mother should monitor her glucose levels just as closely as regular diabetic sufferers until the child is born.
Our Fairfax birth injury attorneys know that mothers want as much information as possible to give their child the best chance at a healthy delivery. You must realize that it is your doctor’s responsibility to counsel his patients on all risks associated with any medical condition, including pregnancy.
If your doctor’s actions contributed to your child’s diabetes birth injury in DC, our attorneys can help you get compensation for your costs of care.Call Shevlin Smith today at 703-721-4233 to get a FREE legal consultation, or click the link on this page to receive a FREE copy of our report, Do I Have A Case? A Patient’s Guide to Virginia Medical Negligence Law.