Abnormalan metabolizam glukoze u trudnica na Malti = Abnormal glucose metabolism in the Maltese pregnant population

Abstract

The Maltese pregnant population delivering at St. Luke's Hospital during the period 1983-1984 were reviewed to identify those patients proved to have impaired glucose metabolism during their pregnancy. Of a total of 10,318 patients, only 65 were identified as having diabetes mellitus and impaired glucose tolerance, suggesting a prevalence of 0.63 %. The patients are shown to be generally elderly, obese and multiparous with a history of previous abortions or perinatal deaths. The pregnancy outcome is more likely to be complicated by an abdominal operative delivery and by neonatal problems, namely fetal distress during labour, respiratory distress and congenital malformations. The prevalence is surprisingly low when one considers that the National Diabetes Programme in Malta has identified that the Maltese female population has a prevalence of diabetes (usually Type II) and I.G. T. of 9.8 % and 5.4 %, respectively. In view of the fact that pregnancy is diabetogenic. a much higher prevalence that 0.63 % should be expected in the Maltese pregnant population. It is suggested that the present screening methods are not sufficiently sensitive to identify minor disorders in glucose metabolism.