Gestational Diabetes Mellitus and Its Association With Pregnancy Outcomes
Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (GDM) is a common complication of pregnancy resulting from altered glucose tolerance due to β-cell dysfunction and may lead to adverse maternal and perinatal outcomes. This study was aimed at counselling pregnant women with GDM about life-style changes and monitoring their feto-maternal outcomes. This was a prospective observational study carried out in the Obstetrics and Gynaecology department of a tertiary care hospital in Bengaluru. A total of 41 pregnant women attending the study site for antenatal care and had developed GDM from their first trimester were included in the study. Of all the subjects, 63.41% belonged to 26-35 years; 63.41% of pregnant women had parity in the range of 2-5 and 92.68% belonged to the middle and upper socio-economic class of Kuppuswamy scale. About 35 (85.36%) subjects had a new onset of GDM. While the treatment for GDM mainly included oral metformin alone as therapy (26, 63.41%). Lower segment caesarean section (LSCS), preterm births, low birth weight (LBW) and NICU admission were the adverse perinatal outcomes observed. The study concluded that socio-economic status of pregnant women may be a risk factor for GDM and that health education regarding life-style changes (diet and physical activity) for the pregnant women may aid in attaining improved pregnancy outcomes.