Introduction

There is an increasing trend of making Diabetes one of the most common non-communicable diseases globally. Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (GDM) is defined as “carbohydrate intolerance variable severity that is first diagnosed during present pregnancy, regardless of the need for insulin or persistence of the diabetic state after delivery”.1, 2 Diabetes Mellitus is the most common disorder of pregnancy, although the prevalence is usually reported as 2 to 5% of pregnant women it can be as high as 14% in high risk groups.1, 2 The earlier studies by Langer et al (1989)3 and Vambergue et al (2000)4 reported that even mild gestational hyperglycaemia, if untreated, is associated with higher incidence of large infants and other metabolic complications occurring in patients with frank gestational diabetes. Women with GDM are also more likely to undergo caesarean section and to develop diabetes later in life.5 It has also been reported that between 35% and 50% of women with GDM will go on to develop type 2 diabetes within 5 years of giving birth.6, 7 When the implications of untreated GDM are considered, including the peripartum risks (of macrosomia, hyperbilirubinemia, operative delivery, shoulder dystocia and birth trauma) the higher incidence of childhood obesity and longer term risk of type 2 diabetes in mother and offspring, a strong case can be made for effective screening and diagnostic tests in Indian population. The Fifth International Conference on GDM recommended grouping of pregnant women based on risk factors and two steps or one step testing for diagnosis of GDM.

Aims and Objective

Materials and Methods

Total of 200 patients were included in the study from Vanivilas hospital for 1 year. A detailed history from antenatal patients was taken to reveal all risk factors. The procedure of the study was explained and required consent for the study was taken. Examination of the patients was done and all relevant data was obtained. Pregnant women at 24-28 weeks were tested with 50g oral glucose load or 75g oral glucose load, at random. Patients were given 50g glucose irrespective of the meal and 1 hour venous blood sample was collected. Patients of 75g of oral glucose were asked to come irrespective of the meal, 75g of glucose was given, and following which 2 hour venous sample was collected. Blood glucose was tested by GOD-POD method. Diagnosis of GDM was made when the plasma glucose of >140mg/dL and impaired glucose tolerance diagnosis was made when plasma glucose was between 120-140mg/dl. Results were tabulated and analysed.

Results

Majority of patients were found in the age group of 21-25 years. 25-30 years age group had 55 patients. Least was seen in the age group above 30 years.

61% of patients were multiparous. 39% of patients were primigravida

Most of our patients belonged to the middle socio-economic status. 44% of patients were in the lower socio-economic status. Only 5% of patients were in upper socio-economic status.

Patients with overweight contributed to the maximum(42%) in our study. Next common group was obesity. 16.5% patients were of normal weight. 9.5% were underweight.

Most common co-morbidity developed in by patients was hypothyroidism, next common being HDP. FGR was seen in 14 patients. Least common was placenta previa, abruption and fetal anomalies. No patients had any known auto immune diseases.

Most of our patients had family history of diabetes mellitus- up to 57.5%. The rest had no family history of diabetes mellitus- up to 42.4%

13.5% of patients had previous history of GDM, 18% had macrosomia and 8% had IUFD.

Normal test results were obtained in 60% of patients. 18.5% had impaired results. 21.5% had GDM.

49.5% of patients delivered vaginally, 7% had instrumental delivery and 43.5% underwent LSCS.

3.5% of patients had preterm delivery and the rest had term delivery. Causes of preterm delivery were severe preeclampsia (2 cases), APH (1 case), FGR (4 cases).

73% of babies had normal birth weight, 11.5% were greater than 3.5 kg, 15% had birth weight of 1.5 – 2.5 kg and 1 baby weighed less than 1.5kg.

Few babies had neonatal complications like macrosomia (5.5%), neonatal hypoglycaemia (14.5%), congenital anomalies (2.5%). There were 2(1%) still births and 1% had shoulder dystocia.

There were no trauma/ injury to neonates. 76% babies were normal.

Discussion

A total of 200 antenatal patients were studied. The present study aim was to identify cases of gestational diabetes mellitus and to study their fetal outcomes. GDM prevalence varies from 1.4 to 14% worldwide and varies with racial and ethnic groups. In our study, GDM comprises of 21.5% of the total screened patients. Majority of the patients were from middle socio economic status. In a study in Maharashtra the prevalence of carbohydrate intolerance was found to be 7.7 percent.8 In our study, maximum patients (47%) were in the age group of 21-25 years and 27.5% of patients were between 25-30 years of age. A study in Kashmir stated that compared with women of normal OGTT, women with GDM were older.9 According to the pathophysiology of the disease, GDM affects older women more than younger ones. It is also known that cardiovascular risk factors may be present in older women and hence primary prevention in these patients would be extremely important to prevent future cardiovascular disease. In the present study, 39% patients were primigravida while 61% patients were multigravida. The study by Rajput et al., showed that higher parity would have a higher rate of GDM.10 Positive family history as a risk factor was noted in 57.7%, in our study. In the study conducted in united kingdom by Nanda et al, positive family history was found in 23.9% patients.11 Pre-eclampsia can complicate the course of pregnancy and has an adverse effect on the feto-maternal outcome. In this study 8.5% of GDM patients had associated HDP. In the study be Saxena et al., the incidence of pre-eclampsia was 40%.12 According to Xiong et al., mothers with GDM were at increased risk of presenting with pre-eclampsia.13 Thus there is an association between pre-eclampsia and GDM and early diagnosis and initiation of treatment should be done to improve the outcome. Hypothyroidism was noted in 14.5% of patients in the present study.14

49.5% patients in this study delivered vaginally. 7% deliveries were instrumental assisted delivery. In this study 43.5% patients underwent LSCS. According to Kale et al, the incidence of LSCS in patients with GDM was found to be 60%.15 In the present study, 96.5% of babies were born at term and 3.5% were pre-term. In a study by Mahalakshmi MM et al., in South India, 77.5% of babies were term live births while 19% were preterm live birth.16 Preterm births in present study were attributed to Causes of preterm delivery were severe preeclampsia (2 cases), APH (1 case), FGR (4 cases). The Indian consensus is that a new born weighing >3.5 kg should be considered as macrosomia. In present study, 11.5% babies were macrosomic at birth which is low compared to other Indian studies where the incidence (weight <2.5 kg) was 20%.

Common Complications noted in neonates born to GDM mothers include fetal macrosomia, impaired fetal growth, metabolic and electrolyte abnormalities, cardiovascular and CNS anomalies. In the present study 14.5% of the babies had hypoglycaemia. In the present study, 2.5% had congenital anomalies. According to Shefali et al., 1.4% babies had congenital anomalies, while according to Saxena et al., 10% babies had congenital anomalies.17

Conclusion

It is well known that GDM has adverse effect on mother and fetus. This study also emphasises the same. GDM mothers need management with multidisciplinary approach to ensure healthy mother and healthy newborn.

Source of Funding

None.

Conflict of Interest

None.