Maternal and Neonatal Outcomes in Gestational Diabetes Mellitus

To describe antenatal maternal complicationsand neonatal outcomes caused by gestational diabetes mellitus.materials and methods: this descriptive observational study was conducted in the department of obstetrics and gynaecology (obs &gynae), bahawal victoria hospital, bahawalpur, pakistan, over a the period of one year, from january 1 to december 31, 2003.fifty pregnant women diagnosed by glucose tolerance tests as diabetics wereenrolled as study subjects and followed regularly at the obs & gynae out-patient department. blood glucose levels were controlled by diet per se or with insulin and subjects were hospitalized for insulin dose adjustment and management of complications.feotal well being was assessed by ultrasound, kick count and cardiotocography. time and mode of delivery was decided upon at 36th week of gestation. intra-partum maternal blood glucose level wasmonitored and fetal monitoring was done by external cardiotocography.results: out of a total of 1429 women delivered, 50(3.5%) were diagnosed as gdm and studied. forty-four (88%) patients were above 25 years of age and 38(76%) were multiparous. thirty-two (64%)subjects required insulin to control gdm. most frequent maternal and feotal complications were polyhydramnios 9(18%) and macrosomia 18(36%),respectively. one out of fifty subjects had a spontaneousmiscarriage and one had intrauterine death. caesarean section was done in 29(58%) patients. total number of babies delivered alive were 48(96%).conclusion: gdm was diagnosed in 3.5% of pregnantwomen. most of the subjects were above 25 years and multiparous. most common maternal complication was polyhydramnios and caesarean section was a common mode of delivery. macrosomiaand jaundice were most prominent complications among neonates.