The Women’s Hospital, a member of Hamad Medical Corporation, is encouraging women in Qatar to get tested for gestational diabetes (GDM) early in their pregnancy to prevent complications.
According to the International Diabetes Federation, approximately 33% of pregnant women in Qatar have GDM.
Dr Faten al-Taher, senior consultant at Women’s Hospital said: “Women may be at particular risk of having gestational diabetes if they are overweight and have a body mass index of 25 kg/m2 or greater. Women who are sedentary and have a family history of type 2 diabetes, or have high blood pressure and smoke are at an increased risk. In addition, those who suffer from high cholesterol have a history of polycystic ovarian syndrome or have had a baby weighing four kilos or more, are at an even greater risk.”
Dr Faten said if GDM is caught early, “we can manage the treatment of our patients more effectively by putting them on a special diet. If their blood sugar is still not controlled, they will be prescribed oral medication and then if this is not effective, they will be administered insulin to manage their diabetic condition.”
She added: “Women that are diabetic should consult their physician three months prior to pregnancy. Doctors will be able to provide valuable advice to control the patient’s diabetes such as taking 5ml of folic acid daily and adjusting their sugar beforehand. The reality is, if a woman has high blood sugar during her pregnancy, she is at high risk of having a miscarriage or having a baby with abnormalities.”
Women diagnosed with GDM will also be referred to a dietician at Women’s Hospital who will work with them to control diet and regulate blood sugar levels. The dietician will suggest lifestyle changes such as adding more physical activity into their daily routine.
“It is essential for women to take better care of themselves by living a healthy lifestyle. As mothers, women will be the healthcare champions and role models for their families,” said Rihab Elsheikh Elsanosi, dietician supervisor at Women’s Hospital. Elsanosi also counselled diabetic women to distribute their daily food intake throughout the day to include three main meals and three snacks. She recommends that these women do not skip any meals or go for long periods of time without eating and, that they consume fewer carbohydrates at breakfast because blood sugar levels tend to be higher early in the morning.
Women’s Hospital offers daily nutritional counselling without an appointment (walk-in clinic) and a weekly group education clinic in English, Arabic and Hindi, every Monday from 11am - 12 noon, aimed at educating women on living with diabetes and offering preventative counselling to help them avoid this chronic disease.
Women with type 1 or type 2 diabetes will be referred to a Women’s Hospital diabetes educator for general counselling about the disease and the risks. They will also gain information on how to administer insulin injections, treat low and high blood sugar, how to use a glucometre, chart their blood sugar levels and follow home glucose monitoring.
All patients have access to a diabetic hotline: 4439-6980 to access diabetic counselling, five days a week (Sunday to Thursday) from 8am - 2pm.
