ABSTRACT
Background: Women with gestational diabetes mellitus pose an important health problem because diabetes not only affects maternal and fetal outcome but these women and fetuses are also at an increased risk of developing diabetes and related complications later in their life. Objectives: The study was aimed to find out prevalence, risk factors, maternal and fetal outcome in patients of gestational diabetes mellitus. Materials and methods: Retrospective study was conducted over a period of 6 months in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, King George Hospital, Visakhapatnam, a Tertiary care centre. Detailed information regarding maternal, fetal and labour outcome parameters was recorded. Results: Prevalence of GDM was found to be 3.12%. Of the affected women, 34.5% were in the age group between 26-30 years, 10.9% were having GDM in previous pregnancy, 14.5% were having family history of diabetes, 20% were managed with diet alone, 41% were on insulin treatment, 65.4% underwent C-Section, 43% of babies were of birth weight 3.1-3.5 kg, 25% of cases were associated with other risk factors like pre-eclampsia. Conclusion: Diabetes during pregnancy is associated with higher maternal and fetal morbidity. Therefore, early screening, detection, close monitoring and intervention is essential to reduce maternal and fetal short and long term adverse effects in high risk groups. Pregnancy provides an opportunity to the clinician to control the disease process and inculcate healthy lifestyle practices in these patients.