FREQUENCY AND PREVALENCE OF DIABETES MELLITUS IN PREGNANT WOMEN OF QUETTA DISTRICT, BALOCHISTAN, PAKISTAN

Abstract
With an emphasis on gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), this study attempts to ascertain the frequency and prevalence of diabetes mellitus (DM) among expectant mothers in Quetta District, Balochistan. Between January 2023 and September 2023, 564 pregnant women who were recruited from Sheikh Khalifah Bin Zayyad Hospital, Sandeman Provisional Hospital, and Bolan Medical Complex Hospital in Quetta participated in a cross-sectional study. Demographic data, clinical evaluations, and laboratory tests such the Oral Glucose Tolerance Test (OGTT), Glycated Hemoglobin (HbA1c) levels, and Fasting Plasma Glucose (FPG) were all used in the data gathering process. The prevalence of GDM among pregnant women in Quetta District was found to be alarming, and an ethnic-specific examination of the data showed that different ethnic groups had varying prevalence rates. With the greatest frequency of 30.15%, Pashtun women were followed by Baloch women with 26.04%. Maternal age over 30, pre-pregnancy BMI, family history of diabetes, ethnicity, prior GDM, and multiple pregnancies were among the factors impacting the prevalence of GDM. The study concludes by highlighting the concerning frequency of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) among expectant mothers in Quetta District and underscoring the pressing need to address this public health concern. This study offers important insights for healthcare professionals and policymakers to create focused programs for early detection, management, and prevention of GDM in the area by identifying important risk factors and consequences linked to the disease.