Inclusion of stress management protocols in the management of gestational diabetes mellitus: Re-visiting Indian guidelines

Abstract

Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) has emerged as a country-wide public health problem. Beyond perinatal implications, GDM is recognized as precursor for most chronic lifestyle diseases. Despite this, the existing Indian guidelines didn't address stress management during pregnancy. In this regard, the present manuscript aims to identify the paralleled need of stress management during pregnancy and suggests related operational strategies for possible inclusion within the existing GDM guidelines of India. As psychological stress in India is already being managed under National Mental Health Programme (NMHP), national level integration of NMHP and Reproductive and Child Health (RCH) will go a long way in providing comprehensive GDM care by avoiding duplication of services and effective utilization of scarce resources.