Gestational Diabetes and Analysis of Maternal and Fetal Outcomes Among Pregnant Women: A Cross-Sectional Study

To determine the occurrence of gestational diabetes mellitus and analyze the maternal and fetal outcomes among pregnant women.

A prospective cross-sectional study was conducted for a duration of 7 months in the Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics at tertiary care hospital where 518 pregnant women participants of age above 18 years who had come for labor and undergone DIPSI (diabetes in pregnancy study of India) test were included in the study after the ethical clearance and obtaining written informed consent, whereas pregnant women with pre-existing diabetes mellitus and on other medication that alter glucose metabolism were excluded from the study.

The occurrence of GDM was found to be 15.44%. The majority of GDM patients (53.75%) were able to manage their condition through dietary modifications alone. Metformin was required for 36.25% of the subjects, while 10% needed insulin. The rates of cesarean delivery (72.1%) and postpartum hemorrhage (17.5%) were also higher in the GDM group compared to the non-GDM group (p < 0.001). Maternal complications, including gestational hypertension (11.3%), polyhydramnios (35%), and vaginal candidiasis (18.8%), were significantly more prevalent among GDM subjects (p < 0.001).

GDM is a frequently observed complication among pregnant women which can lead to adverse maternal and fetal outcomes as well as several complications such as cesarean delivery, postpartum hemorrhage, pre-eclampsia, polyhydramnios, UTI and vaginal candidiasis as compared to those without GDM.