Published on:December 2019
    Journal of Pharmacy Practice and Community Medicine, 2019; 5(4):xx-xx
    Letter to Editor | doi:10.5530/jppcm.2019.4.x


    Gestational Diabetes Mellitus in Pakistan: Undiagnosed Threat to Pregnant Women


    Authors and affiliation (s):

    Maria Tahir1, Noman ul Haq2, Arooj Abid3,*, Abeera Zafar4

    1Department of Pharmacy, Sardar Bahadur Khan University, Quetta, PAKISTAN.

    2Department of Pharmacy Practice, University of Balochistan, Sariab Road, Balochistan, PAKISTAN.

    3Riphah Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Riphah International University, Islamabad, PAKISTAN.

    4Department of Pharmacy Practice, University of Balochistan, PAKISTAN.

    Abstract:

    Dear Editor,

    Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (GDM) is a rare disorder and due to non-uniformity in its diagnostic criteria and changes over time in the recommended glucose values,[1] it is a major and a severe problem during pregnancy. But the time has reached to draw peoples’ attention towards this major medical complication of pregnancy. Women with risk factors such as age greater than 25years; being overweight i.e., BMI > 27kg/m2 before pregnancy and BMI > 30kg/m2 during pregnancy; family history of diabetes; the previous history of pregnancy-induced hypertension and weight of the previous baby of ≥4.5kg have a greater incidence of hyperglycemia during their pregnancy period.[2]

    American Diabetes Association recommends that all pregnant women without a prior known history of diabetes should undergo a 75g Oral Glucose Tolerance Test (OGTT) at 24-28 weeks of gestation with a purpose of improving gestational life and preventing adverse pregnancy outcomes.[3] Women with GDM may have LGA (large for gestational age) for birth weight, stillbirth, difficult delivery, neonatal morbidities (respiratory difficulties, neonatal hypoglycemia, jaundice and in most cases death) and impaired healing of the surgical site after cesarean section as a result of uncontrolled diabetes during pregnancy.[4] Read more...

     




     

    Cite this article as

    Tahir M, Haq NU, Abid A, Zafar A. Gestational Diabetes Mellitus in Pakistan: Undiagnosed Threat to Pregnant Women. Journal of Pharmacy Practice and Community Medicine. 2019;5(4):xx-xx. Abstract