Glycemic status of infants of diabetic mothers; a study at the Children’s Hospital and Institute of Child Health, Multan.

Abstract

Objective: To find out the frequency of hypoglycemia among infants of diabetic mothers (IDMs) and factors affecting it. Study Design: Descriptive Cross Sectional study. Setting: Department of Neonatology, The Children’s Hospital and Institute of Child Health, Multan, Pakistan. Period: September 2019 t0 June 2020. Material & Methods: A total of 186 IDMs admitted to department of neonatology during the study period were enrolled. Bed side blood glucose (BG) was measured using “Accu Chek Performa Blood Glucose Meter” at 0, 2, 4, 6, 8, 12, 18 and 24 hours of life. All IDMs (Infants of Diabetic Mothers) were labeled either gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) or pre GDM (pre-GDM). IDMs noted to have hypoglycemia during 1^st 24 hours of life were described as hypoglycemic and others were labeled as normoglycemic IDMs. Results: Hypoglycemia was noted among 77 (41.4%) IDMs. Duration of disease was significantly more among mothers of hypoglycemic infants (27.62+28.8months vs. 19.69+24.41 months, p=0.0444). Significantly more large for gestational age (LGA) IDMs were found to be hypoglycemic in comparison to normoglycaemic ones (32.5% vs. 16.5%, p=0.0110). Among a total of 77 IDMs noted to have hypoglycemia, 34 (44.1%) were born to mothers who had GDM while remaining 43 (55.9%) were born to pre-GDM mothers. Significantly more IDMs were preterm among pre-GDM mothers when compared to GDM mothers (53.5% vs. 23.5%, p=0.0077). Conclusion: Hypoglycemia is frequent problem among IDMs. Increased duration of diabetes among mothers, LGA as well as preterm IDMs are found to have significantly increased risk of developing hypoglycemia.