There is an increased risk of a child developing diabetes later in life if the mother had gestational diabetes (GDM), according to an expert at the the First International AACE-Gulf Conference on Diabetes, Obesity and other Endocrine Diseases, which concluded here yesterday. GDM is a condition in which women without previously diagnosed diabetes exhibit high blood glucose levels during pregnancy
“Pregnancy is characterised in part by insulin resistance or excess levels of circulating insulin in the body. Thus it may predispose some women to develop diabetes,” said Dr Amin A Jayyousi, Senior Consultant, Endocrinology and Diabetes, Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC).
“There’s no consensus on the prevalence of GDM worldwide over the last four decades. It varies between four to 15 percent. In the United States, the prevalence is about 1.44 percent.”
However, Qatar has been witnessing a slight increase in GDM over the last few years. Studies at HMC show that in 1993 the prevalence of GDM in Qatar was 9.3 percent. In 2000, it increased to 9.6 percent and last year it was 9.7 percent. According to earlier reports, GDM was the most common complication in a majority of the pregnancies with up to 20 percent of expecting mothers being diabetic.
“GDM can affect both the mother and infants resulting in many complications. There is an increased chance of miscarriage, pre-term labour, intrauterine death, Caesarian section etc. For the mother, there will be increased demand of insulin because of her increased weight, increased attacks of hypoglycemia, ketoacidosis, deterioration in the kidney, and eye function,” he said.
Diabetes can also affect the baby, causing lots of congenital malformations, anomalies in the heart, the kidneys, gastrointestinal tract, central nervous system or lead to prenatal death, prematurity etc.
“Diabetes usually results in large babies, almost more than 4.1kg or more than 9 pounds, which causes complications during delivery. That’s why we have almost 50 percent of these ladies ending up with a caesarian section.” A GDM patient has 45 percent chance of developing GDM in her second pregnancy and 65 percent risk of developing diabetes mellitus type II later
in life. As for the baby thus delivered, the risk of developing diabetes during life -time increases four to six times.
“The most important thing is to reduce weight before becoming pregnant, as obesity and the weight gain during pregnancy is one of the most important factors leading to gestational diabetes. People effected with GDM should have long-term follow up as most of them will end up with diabetes after 20 years. Also the newborn, should be followed up closely as they are four to six times more at risk than the others to have diabetes,” he said.
However, 50 percent of people with diabetes do not feel any symptoms hence should have close follow-up.
BY Huda N V
The Peninsula