Daijiworld Media Network - Chennai

Chennai, Dec 16: A study conducted across seven antenatal clinics has found that early gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) affects nearly one in five pregnant women and carries a higher risk of developing diabetes later in life compared to GDM diagnosed later in pregnancy.

The findings are part of the STRiDE study, conducted among over 2,700 pregnant women attending clinics in Chennai, Hyderabad and Puducherry, and were recently published in the journal Diabetes Research and Clinical Practice. The study revealed that the prevalence of early GDM stood at 21.5 per cent, while late GDM was recorded at 19.5 per cent, indicating a steady rise in both categories.

Women were classified as having early GDM if their fasting blood sugar levels ranged between 92 and 125 mg/dl before 20 weeks of pregnancy. Those diagnosed between 24 and 28 weeks with lower fasting blood sugar levels were categorised as having late GDM.

Gestational diabetes is defined as glucose intolerance first detected during pregnancy and affects around 14 per cent of pregnancies worldwide. However, the burden is significantly higher among Asian Indian women, prompting the need for early detection and intervention.

The STRiDE study aimed to develop a risk scoring system to predict late GDM at an early stage of pregnancy. Screening was carried out before 16 weeks using fasting plasma glucose and HbA1c tests. Women with elevated levels were re-tested between 24 and 28 weeks of gestation.

Researchers found that women with early GDM had higher early-pregnancy weight, body mass index, waist circumference, blood pressure and HbA1c levels. They also had a higher incidence of prior GDM and a family history of the condition. In contrast, late GDM showed a stronger association with a family history of diabetes.

The study was a collaborative effort involving research institutions from India, Australia, Kuwait and Great Britain.

Highlighting the implications of the findings, V Mohan, chairman of the Madras Diabetes Research Foundation, Chennai, and one of the study’s authors, said further research was essential. He noted that similar trends were observed in another ICMR study, where early GDM was diagnosed in 19.2 per cent of women and late GDM in 23.4 per cent.

“We need to evaluate the optimal timing and type of tests for GDM and identify treatment strategies that improve outcomes while minimising risks for both mother and foetus,” Mohan said. He added that unlike Western countries, where screening is limited to women with a family history, India must adopt broader screening measures due to the significantly higher prevalence of GDM. Further genomic and genetic studies are also being planned to better understand the condition.