For several years, researchers have studied how conditions during pregnancy can affect a child’s health later in life.
According to a new study, reported by HealthDay and published in the journal Pediatrics, diabetes during pregnancy has been linked to an increased risk of epilepsy in children.
Epilepsy is a neurological disorder that is often detected early in childhood.
Therefore, knowledge of possible risk factors before birth is important for both doctors and health authorities.
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What do the numbers show?
The study is based on data from more than two million children born between 2002 and 2018.
The researchers found that about eight percent of the children had been exposed to diabetes in the womb. This includes type 1 diabetes, type 2 diabetes, and gestational diabetes.
According to the researchers, these children were slightly more likely to be diagnosed with epilepsy, often before the age of three.
At the same time, it is emphasized that the study shows only an association and does not prove that diabetes directly causes the condition.
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This type of diabetes is associated with the highest risk
The results showed that the risk was highest among children whose mothers had type 2 diabetes before pregnancy.
The researchers point out that complications during pregnancy may play a role. These may include premature birth, unstable blood sugar levels, or inflammatory conditions in the body.
On this basis, the researchers recommend that children who were exposed to diabetes during pregnancy be monitored more closely early in life.
This recommendation should be seen as a precautionary measure and not as a warning to pregnant women.
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Sources: HealthDay, and Pediatrics.
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