BACKGROUND: Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (GDM) is a condition that arises mostly during the 2nd or 3rd trimesters of pregnancy characterized with elevation of blood glucose level, as a result of body’s inability to produce and utilize all the insulin during the gestation period. Poor adherence to medication is common among women especially during pregnancy and is associated with high morbidity and mortality rates.
OBJECTIVES: Aim of the study is to check the impact of medication adherence in minimizing maternal and neonatal outcomes in GDM patients and to find the clinical adverse outcomes of GDM in both mother and child.
METHODOLOGY: This prospective observational study was conducted for six months in 72 GDM patients visiting antenatal clinic. The samples were followed up till their delivery; adherence was checked using the Morisky Medication Adherence Scale (MMAS). Maternal and neonatal outcomes were observed after delivery.
RESULTS: Majority of samples were between the age group of 20-25 years (54.1%). An improvement of 8.33% for high adherence (score more than or equal to 8) and a reduction of 41.66% for poor adherence (score less than 5) was found in the 3rd trimester as compared to the 2nd trimester. Good adherence and lower HbA1c measurement was observed in third trimester (p=0.037). It was also observed that an increased incidence of macrosomia with polyhydraminos and premature birth with preeclampsia in samples with HbA1c > 5.7% and less than 4.4% (n=32).
CONCLUSION: The study concludes that improvement in medication adherence by GDM patients may help minimize maternal and neonatal complications due to GDM.