Fetal Outcome in Diabetic Pregnancy

Abstract

Background: Diabetes is the second commonest medical disorder (after hypertension)
complicating pregnancy with an incidence of about 01%. The aim of this study is to see the fetal
outcome in diabetic pregnancy.
Material and Methods: A prospective study was conducted in the Department of Obstetrics &
Gynaecology of Services Hospital, Lahore during a period of July 2005 to July 2006, on 100
consecutive diabetic patients to see a fetal outcome.
Results: The study includes all the patients who presented with impaired glucose tolerance test
gestational diabetes. The patients were booked and had proper antenatal care, however (12%)
had no antenatal care and were admitted directly into the labour room. The results revealed that
the number of babies delivered alive were 96% and perinatal mortality was 4%. The major
postnatal complication observed in our study was hypoglycemia seen in 34% of babies. Other
complications were macrosomia in 32%, hyperbilirubinemia 28%, congenital anomalies in 4%,
respiratory distress syndrome in 2% of babies.
Conclusion: Elective screening programme should be introduced universally to improve pick
up rate of diabetic patients and provide early booking along with meticulous control of blood sugar
levels throughout pregnancy to reduce the morbidity and mortality both in the mother and the
baby. A regular audit of outcome should be carried out to determine the perinatal mortality, still
birth and late fetal loss rates and to identify organizational and health care factors that effect
outcome in diabetic pregnancy.