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Gestational diabetes mellitus in India
V Seshiah1, V Balaji, Madhuri S Balaji
1Apollo Hospitals, Chennai.
The Journal of the Association of Physicians of India
|April 21, 2005
Summary
Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is prevalent in pregnant women, increasing offspring risks. Universal screening for glucose intolerance in pregnancy is recommended, with a simple one-step test being economical.
Area of Science:
- Endocrinology
- Maternal-Fetal Medicine
- Public Health
Background:
- Glucose intolerance during pregnancy poses long-term health risks for offspring, contributing to a cycle of metabolic disorders.
- The prevalence of glucose intolerance in pregnancy remains largely uncharacterized in many regions, necessitating local epidemiological data.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the prevalence of glucose intolerance in pregnant women in Chennai, India.
- To evaluate the utility of different diagnostic criteria for gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM).
Main Methods:
- A prospective study involving 1251 pregnant women in their second or third trimester.
- Initial screening with a 50 gm oral glucose challenge test, followed by a 75 gm oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) for eligible participants.
- Diagnosis of GDM based on WHO criteria, including fasting plasma glucose (FPG) and 2-hour postprandial glucose (PPG).
Main Results:
- Out of 891 women who completed the 75 gm OGTT, 168 (18.9%) were diagnosed with GDM.
- Using a simplified one-step approach with 2-hour plasma glucose ≥ 140 mg/dl, 144 (16.2%) were diagnosed with GDM.
- A broader national screening of 3674 pregnant women indicated a GDM prevalence of 16.55%.
Conclusions:
- The study highlights a significant prevalence of GDM in the studied population, underscoring the need for universal screening.
- A one-step screening using 2-hour plasma glucose ≥ 140 mg/dl is proposed as a simple, economical method for GDM detection, especially in high-risk populations.