Risk Factors Due to Diabetes During Pregnancy

Abstract

Diabetes in pregnancy is increasing on the global scene, particularly in the low and middle-income countries. The gap in knowledge about the main risk factors and biological processes of its adverse outcome remains. The present study aims at defining these risk factors and their impact on mothers and infants to facilitate more efficient screening and care. This thesis examines the connection between maternal metabolic disorders, specifically, gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), obesity, and a malfunction of the pancreatic β cells and their impact on the health of the mother and the child, through a thematic analysis. The responses were divided into five main themes maternal risk factors, neonatal outcomes, clinical management and preventive strategies, long-term effects, and effects on the baby. An unhealthy diet and lack of physical exercise also enhance maternal hyperglycemia. Complications are well controlled through early screening using oral glucose tolerance test and probation using diet, exercise and glycemic control. These findings are consistent with the previous research which found maternal age, obesity, family history of diabetes, and certain prenatal factors to be the important causes of diabetes in pregnancy. Comprehensively, the results emphasize that the most effective strategies on preventing early interventions to improve the maternal and fetal outcomes and decrease the intergenerational rates of metabolic diseases focus on the metabolic health of the mothers.