Gestational and pre-gestational diabetes: comparison of maternal and fetal characteristics and outcome.

OBJECTIVE

To determine the incidence of antenatal and intrapartum maternal and fetal complications of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and compare them with pre-gestational diabetes mellitus (pre-GDM) and non-diabetic pregnancies in our population.

STUDY DESIGN

Nine-hundred and seventy-two women with gestational diabetes mellitus and 71 women with pre-gestational diabetes mellitus, and their offspring (delivered in our hospital between January 1991 and April 1994) were studied. Maternal and fetal prenatal and intrapartum complications were analyzed.

RESULTS

The incidence of GDM was 9.8%. The maternal complications included higher incidences of cesarean section and perineal lacerations in GDM and pre-GDM patients than in the non-diabetic pregnancies, and higher rates of macrosomia and hypoglycemic episodes in their offspring.

CONCLUSION

The incidence of maternal, fetal and neonatal complications in GDM is similar to pre-GDM patients and their offspring. Both GDM and pre-GDM pregnancies and the offspring should, therefore, be monitored and managed identically.