Abstract

BACKGROUND: Diabetes is the most common condition in pregnancy with a worldwide prevalence of 16.9%.

AIM: To determine the adequacy of the nutrient intake of pregnant women with diabetes mellitus.

METHODS: This is a cross-sectional study of 85 pregnant women who met the diagnostic inclusion criteria for diabetes mellitus (gestational and pre-gestational diabetes mellitus) and who were being managed at the outpatient clinic of a tertiary care teaching hospital. Their demography, clinical characteristics (from updated medical records), anthropometric measures (using standard procedures), nutrient intake and meal pattern (obtained using 24 h recall, food frequency and their log diaries) were collected.

RESULTS: The mean age of the group was 29.9 + 4.5 years, 54% were in the second trimester of pregnancy with a mean glycosylated haemoglobin level of 6.3 + 1.4%. The mean BMI indicated that 47% of them were in the obese grade 1 category. Insulin was used in one-third of the population. The overall macronutrient and micronutrient intakes of the population were below the recommended daily allowances for Indians (60-70% of RDA). There was a deficit in the intake of calories, fibre, proteins, iron, calcium, carotene, folic acid, thiamine, riboflavin and niacin. Between the two groups, the pre-GDM women had a significantly better nutrient intake and this could be attributed to a greater exposure to nutrition counselling that they have received during the earlier part of their diabetes care.

CONCLUSION: The gestational period should be viewed as a window of opportunity to modify dietary patterns and introduce healthy lifestyle practices for the woman and her family.