Prevalence of Gestational Diabetes and Risk of Progression to Type 2 Diabetes among pregnant Women in Taif community in Saudi Arabia
Author(s): Afnan Mesfer Alotaibi, Asma Abdullah Al-Dhasi*, Rasan Faisal Almnjwami, Ghadah Aedh Alzaidi and Arwa Aloush Almutairi
Abstract
Background: Gestational diabetes is considered as a global public health problem with a higher lifetime to develop type 2 Diabetes in the following years. In this study aimed to assess the Prevalence of Gestational Diabetes and its Risk for Progression to Type 2 Diabetes among pregnant women in Taif Saudi Arabia. Objective:: This cross-sectional study was to assess the Prevalence of Gestational Diabetes in relation to demographic data among pregnant women in Taif community in Saudi Arabia. Our study was also designed to assess the Risk of Progression to Type 2 Diabetes among pregnant women in Taif community in Saudi Arabia. Methodology: A Cross-Sectional study was done in the Western Region of Saudi Arabia city of Taif, in September of 2021 until September of 2022. Our study population was pregnant women and women suffering from Type 2 diabetes after delivery who live in the Taif city. Sample sizes of 474 women who live in the Taif city and suffered from diabetes only during pregnancy or still have diabetes after delivery were included in the study. women who do not live in the Taif city and never become pregnant were excluded from this study. The survey was conducted using an electronic questionnaire written in Arabic and English. Results: A total sample size of 474 women were enrolled in our study, 86.40% of them had gestational diabetes. Prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus among women who experienced gestational diabetes before in Taif community in Saudi Arabia is 26.2%. Female risk factors to develop T2DM after surfing from gestational diabetes significant factors were aged 30-50 years (p <0.001), educational level (p 0.003), family history of Diabetes (p 0.003), history of stillbirth (p 0.015), using insulin during suffering from gestational diabetes (p <0.001), follow up GD or check blood glucose after delivery (p 0.006) using Chi-square test. Conclusion: A high prevalence of GDM was noted in our study; risk factors to develop T2DM after suffering from GDM were increased age, higher educational level, family history of diabetes, history of stillbirth, using insulin during pregnancy, and follow up GD or check blood glucose after delivery enhance early discover. The screening program during pregnancy, preferably early in the first trimester, for pre-GDM, as well as postpartum screening for hyperglycemia is highly warranted. The clinical accuracy of diagnosis and determined modifiable risk factors has been designated an area requiring further research and evaluation.