25% of pregnant women in Qatar diagnosed with gestational diabetes: doctor

Up to 25% of expectant mothers in Qatar are diagnosed with gestationaldiabetes, a senior consultant at Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) said. Dr Mohamed Bashir, a diabetes and endocrine consultant at HMC and head,Diabetes Clinic at Women’s Hospital, said the incidence of gestationaldiabetes is on the rise in Qatar. He stated that the dedicated diabetesclinic at Women’s Hospital receives between 1,200 to 1,500 cases eachmonth. “It is extremely important for pregnant women to pay close attention toweight gain throughout their pregnancy and to follow their doctor’sdirections. Poorly controlled gestational diabetes not only puts themother at a higher risk of developing Type 2 diabetes later in life, butit also affects her newborn baby’s chance of developing the disease.” He added that if gestational diabetes is not closely monitored and awoman develops Type 2 diabetes, her future children are at an increasedrisk of developing the disease.Iman Mahmoud, senior diabetes educator at the Diabetes Clinic at Women’sHospital, explained that women with diabetes are classified into twocategories: low-risk and high-risk. “We have patients who range in age from 18 to 45 years old. A diabeteseducator offers our patients general counselling about the various typesof diabetes and teaches them how to administer insulin injections,manage low and high blood sugar, use a glucometer, and log their bloodsugar levels. Diabetes education is also provided to family members toensure they are equipped to deal with emergencies such as a sudden dropin blood sugar,” said Mahmoud. While women with pre-existing Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes can haverelatively normal pregnancies and give birth to healthy babies, theirpregnancies are considered high risk and should be closely monitored.The Diabetes Clinic at the Women’s Hospital provides these patients withthe care they need during and after their pregnancy.