Infant mortality Can Be Reduced By Controlling Gestational Diabetes In Mothers: Report

Gestational diabetes (GD) can develop in women during pregnancy period despite not having one. Managing gestational diabetes can ensure a healthy baby and mother.

A recent study suggests keeping the target blood sugar at a lower level in moms with gestational diabetes can help reduce the risk of death or injury to the baby during birth. The study led by Caroline Crowther from the University of Auckland, New Zealand and a team was published in the journal PLOS Medicine.     

The researchers conducted a study at 10 hospitals in New Zealand to determine whether stricter control is better. The 1,100 pregnant women with gestational diabetes were studied. During the study, the hospitals switched from higher to lower blood sugar targets, and test results for women and babies in each group were compared. 

Gestational Diabetes Diagnosis

The results showed tighter blood sugar control did not lead to babies being larger than expected. Although, it did reduce the risk of infant death, trauma, and shoulder dystocia during birth. However, tighter control induced complications in the mother's health. It almost doubled the risk of serious health outcomes such as a major postpartum hemorrhage. 

Gestational diabetes is a growing health problem worldwide. The data from high-income countries indicate that such diabetes problematizes 5% to 7% of pregnancies approx. The condition affects as many as 5 million women annually in India. GD often causes the birth of large babies, who can encounter obesity and type 2 diabetes later in life. The GD can be managed by controlling sugar levels. For that, women need to change their diets and take medication. However, currently, it is unknown how tightly sugar levels should be controlled to minimize the risks to the mother and baby.

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The study suggests doctors can determine what blood sugar level individual patients should strive for while managing their gestational diabetes. The study is a randomized comparison of two blood sugar level targets reported to date in a diverse population. The researchers emphasised that findings need to be confirmed through additional randomized trials and in different healthcare settings.

Crowther in a report stated that this unique trial allowed for the sequential implementation of the newly recommended tighter treatment targets for women with gestational diabetes and assessed if there are true benefits, without harm, to the use of tighter treatment targets.

Conclusion 

The study made a conclusion that tighter glycaemic (measure of glucose level) targets in women with GD compared to less tight targets did not reduce the risk of a large for gestational age infant. It did reduce serious infant morbidity, as a side effect maternal morbidity increased. These findings can be used to aid decisions on the glycaemic targets women with GD should use.