Mom’s drinking at conception ups kids’ risk of diabetes

Women who drink around the time of conception may put their babies at increased risk of Type 2 diabetes and obesity in early middle age, a new study has indicated.

‘The usual risk factors of these two diseases are attributed to poor diet and lack of exercise, but our research showed exposure to alcohol around conception presents a risk similar to following a high-fat diet for a major proportion of life,’ said one of the researchers Karen Moritz.

Although most women stop drinking once they discover they are pregnant, a significant proportion are consuming alcohol at the time of conception, before they even know they are pregnant.

Written by: Dr. Ajay Sati.