PRECONCEPTION AND ANTENATAL FOLATE SUPPLEMENTATION INWOMEN WITH PREEXISTING DIABETES

Abstract

Objectives: The aim of this survey is to evaluate the awareness, understanding, and use of folate in clinical practice. Methodology: This was a survey-based cross-sectional study using a predesigned questionnaire. The survey questionnaire was distributed among patients with pre-existing diabetes attending gynaecology and endocrine clinics of Fatima Memorial Hospital, Lahore, Pakistan from July 1, 2022, to July 31, 2022. All women with pre-existing diabetes (both type 1 and type 2) during their first trimester of pregnancy in the study month were included. Women with gestational diabetes were excluded from the study. Data were analyzed using Statistical Packages for Social Sciences (SPSS version 20). Results: Ninety-two per cent of the study participants were unaware of the role of folic acid in the prevention of neural tube defects in pregnancy with diabetes and 46% percent of the participants reported currently taking folic acid supplements. Moreover, 02% of the participants reported that their doctors had discussed the effects of diabetes on pregnancy with them. Conclusion: There are significant knowledge gaps among people with pre-existing diabetes about the link of preconception and during pregnancy use of folate supplementation to prevent neural tube defects in babies born to mothers with diabetes.