Q&A: I'm concerned that because I'm diabetic my baby may be more likely to have cleft lip and palate.

by Dr. Randy Morris

I am diabetic and also pregnant. The father is healthy and has no family background of illness, depression, etc. But I'm concerned that because I'm diabetic my baby may be more likely to have cleft lip and palate. Should I be concerned?

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), "the organs of the baby form during the first two months of pregnancy, often before a woman knows that she is pregnant. Blood sugar that is not in control can affect those organs while they are being formed and cause serious birth defects in the developing baby, such as those of the brain, spine, and heart". Also, "a woman who has diabetes that is not well controlled has a higher chance of having a miscarriage or stillbirth."

A serious group of malformations known as Caudal Regression Syndrome seem to be directly linked to a woman's blood sugar control at the time of conception. Therefore it is extremely important for diabetics to be under very good control of their blood sugar before conception.

I could find no data that links diabetes to cleft lip or palate.

find more about:
related categories:
All the pregnancy info you need—from the first trimester to the last.
watch more videos