Increasing Trend of Gestational Diabetes Among Pregnant Females

Abstract

Introduction: Gestational Diabetes mellitus (GDM) incidence has risen in recent decades affecting nearly 15 percent of females who experience elevated blood sugar levels during their pregnancy. Aims and Objectives: To assess the increasing trend of gestational diabetes among pregnant females visiting DHQ Hospital Narowal. Place and Duration of study: Data was collected at DHQ Hospital Narowal during 2018 & 2023. Material and Methods: The study was carried out at DHQ Hospital, Narowal. During study period, 3600 pregnant females aged between 18 to 45 years were enrolled and examined for gestational diabetes mellitus in each year 2018 & 2023. The collected data was entered and analyzed in computer software SPSS version 25.0. Data was presented in tables and graphs for both quantitative and qualitative variables. pvalue? 0.05 was taken as significant. Results: Among 3600 pregnant females in year 2018, 75.1% were 18-30 years old and 24.9% were 31-45 years old. Among pregnant females in year 2023, 89.0% were 18-30 years old and 11.0% were 31-45 years old. Among pregnant females, 15.9%, 42.4% and 41.7% had gestational age 0-12 weeks, 13-28 weeks and 29-40 weeks in 2018, respectively. In 2023, 29.6%, 22.1% and 48.3% females had gestational age 0-12 weeks, 13-28 weeks and 29-40 weeks, respectively. Among these pregnant females, 20.1% in 2018 and 35.0% in 2023 were diagnosed with gestational diabetes while the increasing trend was found to be 14.9%. Conclusion: This study concluded that there was an increasing trend of gestational diabetes mellitus among pregnant females in Narowal.