Gestational diabetes and its association with unpleasant outcomes of pregnancy

Background: Diabetes Mellitus account for over 8% of all pregnancies and is associated with increased risk of complications of pregnancy, and prenatal mortality. This study was conducted to determine the disadvantages of gestational diabetes on mother and her baby, in order to prevent neonatal and marital unpleasant outcomes. Methodology: The present historical cohort study includes 420 mothers referred to Shiraz hospitals in 2006. Seventy cases with diabetes and 350 were controls. Data was collected by questionnaire and analyzed by t-test and fisher exact tests in SPSS v.13 software. Results: The recurrence rate of gestational diabetes was 72.4%. There was a significant difference between the two groups in still birth (RR= 8.87), macrosommia (RR= 7.38), respiratory distress (RR= 5.16), hypoglycemia (RR= 13.38), neonatal jaundice (RR= 3.28), need for respiratory support (RR= 3.17), congenital anomalies (RR= 7.28) and cesarean delivery (RR= 1.96) (p<0.05). However it did not show any significant difference in intra uterine growth retardation (IUGR), shoulder dystocia, breech labor, need for insulin, meconium problems, induction of labor, episiotomy and placenta disorders (P>0.05). Conclusion: Stillbirth, macrosomia, respiratory distress, hypoglycemia and neonatal jaundice are more common in women with gestational diabetes. Hence in view of the unfavourable outcome, preventive measures and control of diabetes are essential.