diabetes <\/a>are at a higher risk of having a fetus that develops anencephaly. Alpha-fetoprotein is an important nutrient that helps with fetus development, IDDM inhibits the production during gestation which can trigger neural tube defects such as spina bifida and anencephaly. <\/p>\n\n\n\nWomen should be screened during their pregnancy using a maternal serum AFP screening test. This may give medical providers a chance to adjust the values and prevent the onset of anencephaly during gestation. Insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus that is well-controlled results in a lower risk of birth defects though gestational diabetes is not known to increase the risks any more than a normal pregnancy. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Healthy eating and close monitoring prior to getting pregnant and during the early stages are the best way to monitor the fetus although prevention of anencephaly is not guaranteed.
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