A Study of Incidence of Hypoglycaemia and Hypocalcaemia in Infants Born to Diabetic Mothers and a Correlation with Maternal Third Trimester Glycaemic Control

Abstract

Introduction: Incidence of anatomical as well as metabolic complications in infants born to diabetic mothers are increasing. Most of them are due to poor maternal glycaemic control during third trimester. Among the metabolic complications, hypoglycaemia and hypocalcaemia are the most common. This study highlights the importance of third trimester glycaemic control in antenatal diabetic mothers to prevent metabolic complications in babies born to such mothers. Aim: To correlate the relationship between maternal third trimester glycaemic control and metabolic complications in infants born to them. Materials and Methods: This study was done from August 2011 to July 2012 in diabetic mothers who were admitted in the hospital for delivery and the newborn babies born to them. Maternal HbA1c level was checked during third trimester and blood samples were collected from newborn for the estimation of blood sugar and serum ionised calcium levels. One-way Chi-square test was used. Results: Among the 52 mothers included in this study, 30 (57.7%) had HbA1c level >6.1 (poor glycaemic control). Among the 30 babies born to these mothers, 18 babies (85.7%) had hypoglycaemia and 4 babies (57.1%) had hypocalcaemia. The statistical interpretations showed that there was no definite relation between incidence of hypocalcaemia in neonates born to diabetic mothers and their glycaemic control. Conclusion: Hypoglycaemia is common among infants born to diabetic mothers with poor third trimester glycaemic control. Meticulous glycaemic control during pregnancy is essential to avoid complications.

Keywords

• diabetes
• glycated haemoglobin
• pregnancy