DIABETES MELLITUS IN PREGNANCY 
5 POINTS FOR THE UNDERGRAD TO CONSIDER 
1
Associate Professor Dr 
Hanifullah Khan 
2
FACTS ABOUT DM
Prevalence & Consensus 
Diabetes mellitus (DM) and other forms of glucose 
intolerance are widely prevalent worldwide# 
The incidence of GDM remains obscure mainly due to the 
lack of consensus on investigative and diagnostic criteria# 
GDM develops as soon as pancreatic β-cell secretion 
becomes insufficient to compensate for the physiological 
insulin resistance# 
usually manifests during the second half of pregnancy.
Important fact 
To understand the effects of hyperglycaemia on the 
fetus, it should be remembered that glucose crosses the 
placenta freely but maternal insulin does not. # 
Thus, maternal hyperglycaemia leads to fetal 
hyperglycaemia with a consequent rise in fetal insulin 
secretion
What does excess fetal 
insulin do? 
Cause increased weight gain# 
fetuses > 4000g are termed macrosomic# 
Obstructed labour & caesarean section# 
Due to disproportion between fetal size and birth canal # 
Increased risk of injury and complications - those that do pass through# 
may inflict maternal and fetal birth trauma# 
shoulder dystocia # 
Sudden fetal demise in utero at term - for reasons still unknown
Beyond delivery 
Respiratory distress syndrome# 
Hypoglycaemia# 
Adulthood and associated obesity, diabetes and the 
metabolic syndrome
Maternal problems 
Increased risk of developing DM# 
Past history of GDM increases the risk of recurrence in 
subsequent pregnancies# 
Increased risk of later occurrence of DM
5 Points 
1. It is important to differentiate between gestational 
& pregestational DM 
2. Patients with DM are frequently asymptomatic 
3. Certain factors will provide a clue of possible DM 
4. Monitoring of DM involves history, examination 
& investigation, in that order 
5. DM may present late with complications of 
pregnancy 
9
1. It is important to differentiate 
between gestational & 
pregestational DM
What is DM? 
A metabolic condition 
characterized by chronic 
hyperglycemia as a result 
of defective insulin 
secretion, insulin action 
or both 
i. Type 1(IDDM) 
ii. Type 2(NIDDM) 
iii. Gestational diabetes 
iv. Others -genetic defects in insulin processing or 
11 
action 
-endocrinopathies 
-drugs 
-exocrine pancreatic defects 
-genetic syndromes associated with DM
Either type 1 or type 2# 
Type 1 # 
younger age group # 
increased maternal and obs risks# 
Type 2 # 
usually occurs in obese patients
• Glucose intolerance 
of variable severity 
with onset or first 
identification during 
the pregnancy 
– Constitutes 90 percent of diabetes in 
pregnancy 
– Generally occurs in the latter half of 
pregnancy 
– Usually no effect on organogenesis (no 
congenital defects) 
– Disappears after delivery
Pregnancy predisposes to persistent 
hyperglycaemia 
• glucose is made available to the fetus 
– ↑ placental hormones 
– ↑ plasma cortisol 
– A state of insulin resistance 
– Further aggravated by ↑ body 
weight and ↑ caloric intake 
during pregnancy 
! 
14 
• Pregestational diabetes 
becomes worse during 
pregnancy 
• GDM develops when the pancreas cannot overcome the 
effect of these hormones
5 Points 
1. It is important to differentiate between gestational 
& pregestational DM 
2. Patients with DM are frequently asymptomatic 
3. Certain factors will provide a clue of possible DM 
4. Monitoring of DM involves history, examination 
& investigation, in that order 
5. DM may present late with complications of 
pregnancy
2. Patients with DM are 
frequently asymptomatic 
16
In Asymptomatic Patients 
Screening test needed 
– OGTT 
Either 
– Universal screening 
– Selective screening (based on risk factors)
OGTT 
75 grams of oral glucose is given 
3 readings -fasting glucose level, 1 hr and 2 hr post glucose 
The diagnosis of DM is made when fasting glucose level are 
≥7.8 and or 2 hour level of >11.1 
If the 2 hours levels are between 7.8 and 11.1,the patient is 
said to have impaired glucose tolerance test and should be 
treated as GDM
Screening Algorithm
5 Points 
1. It is important to differentiate between gestational 
& pregestational DM 
2. Patients with DM are frequently asymptomatic 
3. Certain factors will provide a clue of possible DM 
4. Monitoring of DM involves history, examination 
& investigation, in that order 
5. DM may present late with complications of 
pregnancy
3. Certain factors will 
provide a clue of possible 
DM 
21
Factors for 
screening 
★Risk Factors 
• Age>30 years 
• Previous GDM 
• Family history of DM 
• Bad Obs history 
• History of macrosomia 
• Prev. fetal anomalies 
• History of unexplained 
stillbirth 
Associated Clinical Factors 
• Congenital fetal 
anomalies 
• Pre-eclampsia 
• Obesity > 90 kg 
• Recurrent UTI, vaginal 
candidiasis 
• Presence of glycosuria 
on more than 2 
occasions
5 Points 
1. It is important to differentiate between gestational 
& pregestational DM 
2. Patients with DM are frequently asymptomatic 
3. Certain factors will provide a clue of possible DM 
4. Monitoring of DM involves history, examination 
& investigation, in that order 
5. DM may present late with complications of 
pregnancy
4. Monitoring of DM 
involves history, 
examination 
& investigation, 
in that order 
24
Assessment of the 
pregnancy 
Take precise history - maternal well-being, FM# 
Examine for complications - remember; maternal, fetal 
& placental# 
Investigations - in order of priority# 
ultrasound scan, urine, blood tests, CTG
5 Points 
1. It is important to differentiate between gestational 
& pregestational DM 
2. Patients with DM are frequently asymptomatic 
3. Certain factors will provide a clue of possible DM 
4. Monitoring of DM involves history, examination 
& investigation, in that order 
5. DM may present late with complications of 
pregnancy
5. DM may 
present late 
with complications 
of pregnancy 
27
Maternal Complications - 
Obstetric 
1. Pre-eclampsia 
2. Recurrent infection-vaginal candidiasis,uti 
3. Polyhydramnios—pprom, cord prolapse, 
4. Increased instrumental and CS rates 
5. Anomalies & abortions 
6. Sudden IUD 
7. Post-delivery, 40-60% of women develop type 2 DM 
within 10 years
Maternal Complications - 
Medical 
1. Retinopathy 
2. Nephropathy 
3. Neuropathy 
4. Micro/macroangiopathy
Fetal 
complications 
1. Congenital anomalies (4 
fold) - sacral agenesis, 
NTD, cardiac and renal 
anomalies 
2. Macrosomia 
3. Respiratory distress 
syndrom 
4. Hypoglycemia-result of 
hyperplasia of beta cell 
5. Prematurity 
6. Malpresentation 
7. Shoulder dystocia 
8. Polycythemic -jaundice 
Text
Mechanism of macrosomia
Shoulder 
Dystocia
5 Points 
1. It is important to differentiate between gestational 
& pregestational DM 
2. Patients with DM are frequently asymptomatic 
3. Certain factors will provide a clue of possible DM 
4. Monitoring of DM involves history, examination 
& investigation, in that order 
5. DM may present late with complications of 
pregnancy
This is your group!

DM in pregnancy 5 points

  • 1.
    DIABETES MELLITUS INPREGNANCY 5 POINTS FOR THE UNDERGRAD TO CONSIDER 1
  • 2.
    Associate Professor Dr Hanifullah Khan 2
  • 3.
  • 4.
    Prevalence & Consensus Diabetes mellitus (DM) and other forms of glucose intolerance are widely prevalent worldwide# The incidence of GDM remains obscure mainly due to the lack of consensus on investigative and diagnostic criteria# GDM develops as soon as pancreatic β-cell secretion becomes insufficient to compensate for the physiological insulin resistance# usually manifests during the second half of pregnancy.
  • 5.
    Important fact Tounderstand the effects of hyperglycaemia on the fetus, it should be remembered that glucose crosses the placenta freely but maternal insulin does not. # Thus, maternal hyperglycaemia leads to fetal hyperglycaemia with a consequent rise in fetal insulin secretion
  • 6.
    What does excessfetal insulin do? Cause increased weight gain# fetuses > 4000g are termed macrosomic# Obstructed labour & caesarean section# Due to disproportion between fetal size and birth canal # Increased risk of injury and complications - those that do pass through# may inflict maternal and fetal birth trauma# shoulder dystocia # Sudden fetal demise in utero at term - for reasons still unknown
  • 7.
    Beyond delivery Respiratorydistress syndrome# Hypoglycaemia# Adulthood and associated obesity, diabetes and the metabolic syndrome
  • 8.
    Maternal problems Increasedrisk of developing DM# Past history of GDM increases the risk of recurrence in subsequent pregnancies# Increased risk of later occurrence of DM
  • 9.
    5 Points 1.It is important to differentiate between gestational & pregestational DM 2. Patients with DM are frequently asymptomatic 3. Certain factors will provide a clue of possible DM 4. Monitoring of DM involves history, examination & investigation, in that order 5. DM may present late with complications of pregnancy 9
  • 10.
    1. It isimportant to differentiate between gestational & pregestational DM
  • 11.
    What is DM? A metabolic condition characterized by chronic hyperglycemia as a result of defective insulin secretion, insulin action or both i. Type 1(IDDM) ii. Type 2(NIDDM) iii. Gestational diabetes iv. Others -genetic defects in insulin processing or 11 action -endocrinopathies -drugs -exocrine pancreatic defects -genetic syndromes associated with DM
  • 12.
    Either type 1or type 2# Type 1 # younger age group # increased maternal and obs risks# Type 2 # usually occurs in obese patients
  • 13.
    • Glucose intolerance of variable severity with onset or first identification during the pregnancy – Constitutes 90 percent of diabetes in pregnancy – Generally occurs in the latter half of pregnancy – Usually no effect on organogenesis (no congenital defects) – Disappears after delivery
  • 14.
    Pregnancy predisposes topersistent hyperglycaemia • glucose is made available to the fetus – ↑ placental hormones – ↑ plasma cortisol – A state of insulin resistance – Further aggravated by ↑ body weight and ↑ caloric intake during pregnancy ! 14 • Pregestational diabetes becomes worse during pregnancy • GDM develops when the pancreas cannot overcome the effect of these hormones
  • 15.
    5 Points 1.It is important to differentiate between gestational & pregestational DM 2. Patients with DM are frequently asymptomatic 3. Certain factors will provide a clue of possible DM 4. Monitoring of DM involves history, examination & investigation, in that order 5. DM may present late with complications of pregnancy
  • 16.
    2. Patients withDM are frequently asymptomatic 16
  • 17.
    In Asymptomatic Patients Screening test needed – OGTT Either – Universal screening – Selective screening (based on risk factors)
  • 18.
    OGTT 75 gramsof oral glucose is given 3 readings -fasting glucose level, 1 hr and 2 hr post glucose The diagnosis of DM is made when fasting glucose level are ≥7.8 and or 2 hour level of >11.1 If the 2 hours levels are between 7.8 and 11.1,the patient is said to have impaired glucose tolerance test and should be treated as GDM
  • 19.
  • 20.
    5 Points 1.It is important to differentiate between gestational & pregestational DM 2. Patients with DM are frequently asymptomatic 3. Certain factors will provide a clue of possible DM 4. Monitoring of DM involves history, examination & investigation, in that order 5. DM may present late with complications of pregnancy
  • 21.
    3. Certain factorswill provide a clue of possible DM 21
  • 22.
    Factors for screening ★Risk Factors • Age>30 years • Previous GDM • Family history of DM • Bad Obs history • History of macrosomia • Prev. fetal anomalies • History of unexplained stillbirth Associated Clinical Factors • Congenital fetal anomalies • Pre-eclampsia • Obesity > 90 kg • Recurrent UTI, vaginal candidiasis • Presence of glycosuria on more than 2 occasions
  • 23.
    5 Points 1.It is important to differentiate between gestational & pregestational DM 2. Patients with DM are frequently asymptomatic 3. Certain factors will provide a clue of possible DM 4. Monitoring of DM involves history, examination & investigation, in that order 5. DM may present late with complications of pregnancy
  • 24.
    4. Monitoring ofDM involves history, examination & investigation, in that order 24
  • 25.
    Assessment of the pregnancy Take precise history - maternal well-being, FM# Examine for complications - remember; maternal, fetal & placental# Investigations - in order of priority# ultrasound scan, urine, blood tests, CTG
  • 26.
    5 Points 1.It is important to differentiate between gestational & pregestational DM 2. Patients with DM are frequently asymptomatic 3. Certain factors will provide a clue of possible DM 4. Monitoring of DM involves history, examination & investigation, in that order 5. DM may present late with complications of pregnancy
  • 27.
    5. DM may present late with complications of pregnancy 27
  • 28.
    Maternal Complications - Obstetric 1. Pre-eclampsia 2. Recurrent infection-vaginal candidiasis,uti 3. Polyhydramnios—pprom, cord prolapse, 4. Increased instrumental and CS rates 5. Anomalies & abortions 6. Sudden IUD 7. Post-delivery, 40-60% of women develop type 2 DM within 10 years
  • 29.
    Maternal Complications - Medical 1. Retinopathy 2. Nephropathy 3. Neuropathy 4. Micro/macroangiopathy
  • 30.
    Fetal complications 1.Congenital anomalies (4 fold) - sacral agenesis, NTD, cardiac and renal anomalies 2. Macrosomia 3. Respiratory distress syndrom 4. Hypoglycemia-result of hyperplasia of beta cell 5. Prematurity 6. Malpresentation 7. Shoulder dystocia 8. Polycythemic -jaundice Text
  • 31.
  • 32.
  • 33.
    5 Points 1.It is important to differentiate between gestational & pregestational DM 2. Patients with DM are frequently asymptomatic 3. Certain factors will provide a clue of possible DM 4. Monitoring of DM involves history, examination & investigation, in that order 5. DM may present late with complications of pregnancy
  • 34.