The Assessment of Fetomaternal Outcomes in a Tertiary Care Teaching Center in Southern India During Pregnancy Complicated by Diabetes

Abstract

Introduction: Pregnancy-related diabetes is a serious health problem that could have negative effects on both the mother and the foetus. The purpose of this study was to assess the fetomaternal outcomes in pregnant women with diabetes in a teaching hospital for tertiary care in southern India.

Methods: A retrospective examination of 272 diabetic pregnant women who gave birth between January 2020 and December 2022 was carried out. Women with "Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (GDM)" and pre-existing diabetes were included in the study. Medical records were consulted to gather information on maternal and foetal outcomes.

Results: The study discovered that 12% of women who had diabetes during pregnancy experienced preterm labour and 22% of them suffered hypertensive problems. Furthermore, 10% of newborns had low birth weight, and 12% of children were delivered prematurely. In addition, 26% of newborns had macrosomia, and 8% had congenital abnormalities, the majority of which were heart problems. In addition to having a considerably higher mean HbA1c level than women with GDM, premature labour and hypertensive problems were more common in pre-diabetic women.

Conclusion: The current study emphasises the major dangers of diabetes during pregnancy and the demand for effective management and care measures to lessen the risk of unfavourable outcomes for both the mother and the foetus. The study's findings are in line with earlier studies that have shown how having diabetes during pregnancy affects both the mother and the foetus negatively. The results of the present study need to be confirmed, and more research is needed to examine the effects of diabetes during pregnancy on mother glycemic management and long-term consequences.