How High Blood Sugar in Pregnancy Can Affect Your Baby's Heart

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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