Gestational diabetes: obstetric and neonatal outcome in 411 cases.

Aim: To study the obstetric and neonatal outcome of women with gestational diabetes mellitus.

Methods: Four hundred and eleven (411) women with gestational diabetes mellitus were studied retrospectively. The control group was 3,391 non-diabetic women delivered in the same period.

Results: Women with gestational diabetes mellitus had a significantly higher incidence of pregnancy-induced hypertension, and more were likely to present with malpresentation in labour. They had a higher incidence of surgical induction and an increased incidence of elective and emergency Caesarean section rate compared to controls. The neonatal outcome was excellent. The perinatal morbidity and mortality were similar to the non-diabetic controls.

Conclusion: The excellent outcome of the women with gestational diabetes mellitus in this study is attributed to tight control of blood glucose level and close attention given to this group of patients.