The Early Sonographic Prediction of Gestational Diabetes in Women From India

Abstract

Objective: The purpose of this study was to look for the earliest, cost -effective method that can be added to the routine antenatal screening for identifying patients who might develop gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) in a proactive manner, as opposed to the current reactive approach of screening and treating GDM, during the second trimester of pregnancy. Materials and Methods: 190 singleton pregnant women in the age group 18-35 years were selected for the study. On these women two step assessment was done. The current project was carried out to utilize sonography as an early, cost-effective method which could be added to routine antenatal screening for identifying patients, at risk for developing GDM. Results: Body mass index was found to have a significant association in those patients with GDM with a P < .001. There was a significant association between subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) depth and occurrence of GDM, with a P-value of <.001. Also, in the present study, the occurrence of GDM significantly increased with a rise in visceral adipose tissue (VAT), and there was a significant association between the two, with P < .001. It was noted that there were greater incidences of GDM as VAT depth increased. The existence of GDM greatly increased with a rise in total abdominal tissue (TAT), and there was a significant association between the two, with P < .001 Conclusion: The sonographic measurement of SAT, VAT, and TAT, could be potential marker to identify probable events for the development of GDM, among Asian Indian women who tend to have T2DM, due to differential distribution of fat.