Prevalence of gestational diabetes and pregnancy outcome in Pakistan

ABSTRACT

Prevalence of gestational diabetes mellitus and the pregnancy outcome of women registered at the Aga Khan Maternity Home, Karachi was studied. Initial screening was by a glucose challenge test with 50 g glucose. If the 1-hour blood glucose level exceeded 130 mg%, then a 3-hour oral glucose tolerance test with 100 g glucose was performed. Diagnosis was based on O'Sullivan's criteria. Insulin was prescribed if the fasting blood glucose was more than 95 mg%, and the 2-hour post-prandial over 125 mg%, after a week of diet therapy. The prevalence of gestational diabetes was 3.45% with an aggregate birth weight of 3.24 kg, and perinatal loss of 2.08%. The mean blood glucose values were 93.46 mg% fasting and 117.03 mg%, 2 hours post-prandial