DOI: 10.36347/sasjm.2020.v06i03.002

Pages: 84-90

Background: Diabetes Mellitus encompasses a group of metabolic diseases characterized by defective insulin activity. Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (GDM). It is defined as glucose intolerance with first onset or recognition during pregnancy. It is estimated that 7% of all pregnancies are complicated by Gestational Diabetes resulting in more than 200,000 cases annually. Gestational Diabetes is associated with perinatal and obstetric complications. WHO has recently developed new criteria for screening for Gestational Diabetes Mellitus? The aim of this study is to determine the relationship between OGTT indices (FPG, 1hr and 2hr post glucose load) and anthropometric indices (pre-pregnancy weight and Body Mass Index BMI) Subjects And Materials: This was a cross sectional study comprising 132 antenatal clinic attendees. The participants of the study were screened for Gestational diabetes using oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) after appropriate history had been taken. Results: The prevalence of Gestational Diabetes was found to be 15.2%. The mean age of occurrence was 30.45± 4.30. Pre- pregnancy weight and BMI had a strong association with GDM in contrast to those without GDM. There was a positive correlation between OGTT indices and pre- pregnancy weight and BMI implying that the higher the prepregnancy weight and BMI, the higher the OGTT indices. Conclusion: The prevalence of Gestational diabetes is increasing and more likely to be found in older mothers. There is need to screen all pregnant women for Gestational Diabetes Mellitus in Africa. Preventive measures of risk factors for GDM should be advocated such as maintenance of a normal pre-pregnancy body weight and BMI, younger age of child bearing<35years and lower parity.