Excessive Early Pregnancy Weight Gain and Risk of Gestational Diabetes Mellitus

Abstract

Objectives:To study the association between excessive early pregnancy weight gain and risk of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). A total of 250 women who attended antenatal outpatient department at ESI Hospital Chennai were recruited for the study. Height and weight of the pregnant women was recorded during their first visit (up to 6 weeks) and at 14 weeks of gestation. Body mass index (BMI) was calculated according to Quetelet index. Waist hip ratio was measured at 6 weeks. The early gestation weight gain more than 2 kg was considered as excessive weight gain and was associated to the risk of developing GDM. Blood sugar was estimated using Diabetes in Pregnancy Study Group Index (DIPSI) standards. Results:Of the 250 women studied, 104 women developed GDM. Excessive weight gain in the 1st trimester of pregnancy was significantly associated with the development of GDM with a p-value of 0.000. The other risk factors studied were BMI (p = 0.0064), waist/hip ratio (p = 0.0015), family history of diabetes mellitus (DM) (p = 0.00), which also had a significant association.Clinical significance: This study shows that excessive weight gain in 1st trimester had an increased risk of GDM. The benefit of early identification of excess gestational weight gain would be the opportunity for intervention early in pregnancy to ideally decrease GDM. Conclusion:Excessive early pregnancy weight gain, primarily in the 1st trimester may increase the risk of developing GDM. Thus, preventing excessive early pregnancy weight gain in the 1st trimester can be modified by lifestyle changes and simple exercise, which is a costless intervention, and can also decrease maternal and neonatal morbidity effectively.