Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (GDM) is a type of diabetes first detected during pregnancy. It causes high blood sugar levels, which can lead to serious health issues for both mother and baby. GDM is a growing concern in India, where over five million pregnant women are estimated to have GDM each year.
In 2015, it was found that about 16.2% of India’s live births involved women who had some form of high blood sugar during pregnancy. If these numbers continue to rise, India is projected to have 313.
3 million diabetic women by 2040. Why is Gestational Diabetes Dangerous? GDM increases the risk of complications during pregnancy. High blood sugar can lead to conditions like high blood pressure, premature birth, and breathing and metabolism problems in newborns.
Early detection and proper treatment can help reduce these risks. GDM is commonly detected between 24 and 28 weeks of pregnancy, but 30% to 70% of cases are identified even earlier, before 20 weeks. When GDM is diagnosed early, it is linked to higher risks of complications, making timely care essential.
Current Guidelines for Detecting GDM The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends a test called the 75-gram 2-hour oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) to check for GDM. This test is generally done between 24 and 28 weeks of pregnancy to determine if a woman has GDM. The HAPO (Hyperglycemia and Adverse Pregnancy Outcomes) study has shown that even slightly high blood sugar levels in pregnancy increase the chances of compli.