Trajectory of gestational weight gain in patients with gestational diabetes mellitus

Abstract

Introduction: Weight gain in pregnancy is a significant modifiable factor that impacts immediate and future health of the mother and her fetus Hence, worldwide guidelines are developed about weight gain in pregnancy. In a recent study patients with abnormal glucose tolerance test and diagnosed with gestational diabetes had less deviation from expected gestational weight gain. Purpose: The aim of our study is to look at the trajectory of gestational weight gain for women diagnosed with gestational diabetes followed at the King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre (KFSH&RC) Methods: Our study population included 215 pregnant women with singleton pregnancy diagnosed with diabetes mellitus who attended the obstetrics outpatient clinic and family health clinics from first antenatal visit until delivery. Results: From among the 215 women in the study cohort, the total number of weight gain was 143. The number of patients who lost weight was 48, and the number of patients who remained stable were 24. Overall, the amount of weight gain for women in this study was comparable to the expected. Conclusion: In our study we found the patients diagnosed with gestational diabetes mellitus have a wide range of changes in their weight gain trajectory from previously expected parameters in the healthy population, which might be explained by other factors like adherence to diet, exercise and medications designed control the metabolism.