Usha Thachappilly1 , Vijayalakshmy R.2 , Sreedevi N. S.3 , Vijayalakshmy Moorkkattukara Thekkoot4 , Shajee Sivasankaran Nair5 , Sajith Vilambil6 , Sajeevan Kundila Chandran7
BACKGROUND Gestational diabetes is a disease in which high blood glucose develops during pregnancy and usually disappears after delivery. The disease can start at any stage of pregnancy. Though any woman can develop Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (GDM), there are few factors which increase the risk. The measurement of glucose levels during screening test can diagnose the condition. METHODS This was a cross sectional study conducted in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Institute of Maternal and Child Health, Medical College, Calicut. 50 pregnant women with GDM were studied. Age, gravida, parity, detailed obstetric history, and history of any treatment were recorded. Height and weight were recorded. Body Mass Index (BMI) was calculated Blood pressure was recorded. Oral Glucose Challenge Test (OGCT) was accepted screening test for detection of GDM. Data analysis was performed in SPSS software version 16. Qualitative data was expressed as percentage. RESULTS The age of mothers ranged from 19 - 37 years. Majority fell in the age group of 24 - 28 years. Mainly they were first or second gravid. Among the status of living children, 34% had one kid. Majority 28 mothers (52%) had previous delivery before 0 - 2 years. Majority of mothers, 39 (78%) did not have a history of previous abortion. The systolic and diastolic BP was normal among majority of mothers. 6% of mothers had increased systolic BP. Diastolic BP was high among 10% of mothers. Height of mothers ranged from 1.5 m to 1.6 m. Majority fell in 61 - 65 Kg category. The BMI was in overweight category in 70% of mothers. The birth weight of babies was assessed. 10 (20%) fell in 2.1-2.5 Kg category, 19 (38%) in 2.6 - 3.0 Kg category, 17 (34%) in 3.1 - 3.5 Kg category and 4 (8%) in 3.6 - 4.0 Kg category. Majority OGCT was in 130 - 140 mg/dL category. The cord blood glucose of neonates was assessed. Majority (72%) had blood sugar between 61 - 90 mg/dL. CONCLUSIONS Onset of GDM is found to be more common in women of 24 - 28 years age group. History of abortions was slightly high in GDM mothers. Systolic and diastolic BP was normal in majority of mothers. Birth weight of neonates was higher as compared to neonates of normal mothers.
