Early detection of GDM can save foetus, mother

Pregnant women in Mumbai may soon have to go through diabetes test as Diabetes Study Group of India is in process of sending guidelines to all the gynaecologists and primary health care centres to ensure the women undergo check up for gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM).

“Most women ignore the test or are unaware. If GDM is treated at the right time, it can not only prevent the child from getting diabetes after an age but the mother too will not get diabetes in future. Seeing the rising number of diabetes cases in India, the DSGI has decided to send the guidelines to the doctors,” said Dr Sudeshna Ray, consultant gynaecologist and obstetrician, Jaslok Hospital and committee member of Medical Disorder in Pregnancy.

GDM can now be detected as early as eight to 10 weeks of pregnancy. Pregnant women will undergo a 75mg of anhydrous glucose tolerance test to find out if they have GDM. 

According to doctors, timely treatment will also help the doctor in advising contraceptives.

“Taking wrong contraceptives can only worsen diabetes,” said Ray.

There are 2.5-10% women in the city having GDM.

“Women who had GDM during a previous pregnancy, have a first degree relative who is diabetic, who gave birth to heavy babies in a previous pregnancy fall under the high risk group of GDM,” said Ray.

Others are women who gave birth to stillborn babies or infants with congenital abnormalities, women with repeated or persistent urinary tract infection and women above 30.

While women recover from gestational diabetes after they give birth, they have a 50% increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes later on, she said. At-risk women should undertake sensible exercise and ignore the myth that they should be “eating for two”.