Objective:

To determine the prevalence of gestational diabetes mellitus that appears during the second or the third trimester of pregnancy using a glucose tolerance test, and to explore the relationship with pregnancy outcomes in pregnant women in Armenia.

Materials and methods:

Prospective cohort study in pregnant women coming to a Level I clinic in Armenia for prenatal care before 14 weeks of gestation who signed the informed consent. Pregnant women with hypertension or existing diabetes before pregnancy or with conditions that could alter HbA1c were excluded. Consecutive sampling: Blood sugar and HbA1c were measured on admission and the glucose tolerance test with 75 g was measured at 24-28 weeks; perinatal and maternal outcomes were measured at the time of delivery. A descriptive analysis is performed and the prevalence of gestational diabetes mellitus is presented.

Results:

Of a total of 372 candidates to enter the study, there were two cases (0.5%) of pre-gestational diabetes mellitus. Of the 370 pregnant women who met the selection criteria, 43 (11.6%) had a miscarriage, and 36 (9.7%) were lost to follow-up before 24 weeks; of the remaining 291 women, 35 (12%) did not undergo the glucose tolerance test. The glucose tolerance test was performed in 256 pregnant women and it was abnormal in 12 cases, for a prevalence of gestational diabetes mellitus of 4.7% (12/256).

Conclusions:

The prevalence of gestational diabetes mellitus was 4.7% in the study population, although frequency may have been underestimated due to losses before 24 weeks. No adverse perinatal outcomes were found in this group of pregnant women.

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