Question

Anencephaly is a neural tube defect associated with maternal type I diabetes. Sirenomelia is also associated with maternal diabetes. What is the association between neural tube defects and maternal diabetes?

1) There is no association between neural tube defects and maternal diabetes
2) Neural tube defects are more common in mothers with diabetes
3) Neural tube defects are less common in mothers with diabetes
4) The association between neural tube defects and maternal diabetes is unclear

Answer 1

Neural tube defects are more common in mothers with diabetes due to high blood sugar interfering with neural tube development and increased risk when there is inadequate folate during the critical embryonic development stage.

Step-by-step explanation:

Neural tube defects are more common in mothers with diabetes. This is because maternal diabetes can lead to poor blood glucose control during the critical first weeks of embryonic neural tube development. The association between neural tube defects and maternal diabetes is that the high blood sugar levels in the mother can interfere with the development of the neural tube, which is a precursor to the central nervous system. Folate, a B vitamin, is essential for the proper closure of the neural tube. If a mother has diabetes and does not have adequate folate levels, the risk for neural tube defects like spina bifida and anencephaly increases.