Overview of Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (GDM) in Ghana; a Call for Action

Abstract

Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), known as glucose intolerance, diagnosed for the first time in pregnancy usually occurs between 24 and 28 weeks of gestation. The international diabetes federation (IDF) asserts that, globally, one in 7 births was diagnosed of GDM in 2017. GDM can results in several pregnancy complications such as increased blood pressure, large birth weight babies and obstructed labor. A systematic review and meta-analysis of published studies on GDM estimated the prevalence of GDM in sub-Saharan Africa to be about 14% in 2015. Significant risk factors of GDM includes, overweight and or obesity, family history of diabetes, previous birth compilations, previous child with large birth weight and pregnant women who are advanced (more than 30 years) in age.