Prevalence of gestational diabetes mellitus in Homagama Divisional Director of Health Service area

Objective: To detennine the prevalence of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) in the Homagama Divisional Director of Health Service (DDHS)area.

 

Methodology: Eight hundred and fifty three pregnant women were subjected to a two-hour 75 g Oral Glucose Tolerance Test (OGTT) at period of amenorrhoea (POA) of 24 - 28 weeks.

 

Results: The prevalence of GDM was 8.4%. the age standardized GDM prevalence was 10.3% (95% CI 7.3 - 13.4). The prevalence of diabetes first detected during pregnancy was I .2 % and that of an impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) was 7.2%.

 

Conclusions  and Recommendations: Prevalence of GDM has increased among rural Sri Lankan pregnant women during the recent past. The majority (86%) of pregnant women with GDM belonged to the asymptomatic IGT category. This suggests the need for screening all pregnant women for GDM with a valid screening test during pregnancy instead of testing urine for reducing substances.