High Rate Weight Gain and Development of Gestational Diabetes

Abstract

Background 
 Excessive gestational weight gain and gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) significantly increase morbidity and mortality for both the mother and the fetus. 
 Objectives 
 To assess maternal weight gain at 28 weeks of gestation in women developing GDM compared with pregnant women without GDM.
 Patients and Methods
 This study is a case-control study of weight gain in pregnant women at 28 weeks of gestation. Data analysis of weight gain was obtained in 225 pregnant women (75 cases of GDM and 150 pregnant women without GDM-controls).
 Results
 Two hundred twenty-five women (GDM group of 75 women and 150 control pregnant women) were evaluated. Demographics characteristics of both groups (case-controls) were compatible. There was a significant difference between mean weight gain among GDM groups (17.36 ±2.89) in comparison to mean weight gain in controls groups (15.67± 2.34) giving a P-value =0.001. Furthermore, we subdivided the rate of weight gain into three categories: pregnant women who gained weight 0-10kg, 10-20, and above 20kg. There was a significant difference according to these categories, 25.3% of women with GDM had an increase of weight of more than 20 kg while only 7.3% of women without GDM increased their weight more than 20kg making P-value=0.001.
 Conclusion
 Weight gain is higher in women diagnosed with GDM at 28 weeks of gestation in comparison to women without GDM.