Abstract
Background: Diabetes mellitus (DM) in pregnant ladies has consequences during the perinatal period, affecting the mothers' gestation and their mode of delivery. The infants of diabetic mothers (IDM) are also prone to spectrum of morbidity. This study aimed to evaluate the outcome of diabetic mothers, of both types; pregestational and gestational, and to determine the spectrum of morbidity pattern among their infants.
Materials and Methods: This study is a retrospective analysis of 4 years period May 2008 to April 2012 at King Fahd Hospital of the University, Al-Khobar, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. All the diabetic pregnant mothers admitted to the hospital and their babies within that period were included into the study.
Results: The diabetic mothers constitute 2.9% of all the pregnant ladies. Multiparity was found in the majority of our diabetic mothers regardless of their type of diabetes. Around 70% of the IDM were born to mothers with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), while 26% were born to mothers with type 2 DM, and only 4.5% type 1 DM. Full term babies were 163 (92.0%), preterm were only 14 (8.0%). The most common IDM morbidities were Hypomagnesaemia, followed by macrosomia, which was found higher in infant of GDM. The least common complications were polycythemia and acute respiratory distress syndrome. A low percentage of asymptomatic hypoglycemia and hypocalcemia were found. There was no mortality among the IDM during the study period.
Conclusions: As proven in this study Gestational DM continues as health care problem with risks for both the mothers and their offspring. It is recommended to follow the international guidelines for early detection, proper diagnosis and management of the gestational diabetic mothers to improve the outcome and limit the complications.