The silent killer among newborn babies
Sep 20, 2010
AFTER religiously attending ante-natal clinics and following all the rules when pregnant, some mothers are still unfortunate to give birth to children with a blood sugar condition. <i>Frederick <br>Womakuyu</i> writes...
AFTER religiously attending ante-natal clinics and following all the rules when pregnant, some mothers are still unfortunate to give birth to children with a blood sugar condition. Frederick
Womakuyu writes...
The media has been awash with reports about a local celebrity giving birth to a child with diabetes. The reports sparked debate the public with people wondering if it is possible for a child to be born with diabetes and whether the condition can be controlled.
Prof. Andrew Otim, the chairman of the Uganda Diabetes Association, this is not a surprise. “The baby was born to a mother with gestational diabetes,†he explains.
Gestational diabetes is a condition in which women without previously diagnosed diabetes exhibit high blood sugar levels during pregnancy. He says gestational diabetes maybe caused by hormones produced during pregnancy which block the action of insulin leading to a high sugar blood level.
Some mothers may eat mostly sugary foods that increase sugar levels in blood beyond limit.
“The high blood sugar levels are then passed on to the foetus in a desperate attempt to create a balance or control. But the baby gets too much of it, leading to diabetes which develops into type 2 diabetes when the baby is an adult,†explains Prof. Otim.
Prof. Otim says 20% of the women globally are at risk of gestational diabetes.
Four out of five babies born with diabetes suffer respiratory complications and infections.
Prof. Otim reveals that in Mulago Hospital, there is a high death rate of children born of mothers with gestational diabetes and the ones who survive often develop type 2 diabetes
“If not treated, the mother may often have diabetic babies. However, such babies can be saved if the health workers continue to monitor and control sugar levels,†he adds.
He says such babies are born pre-maturely and are bigger than their normal age and weigh over 4kg, than the normal baby.
Prof. Otim explains that if the doctors know that a mother often experiences gestational diabetes, they perform a C-section to deliver the baby pre-maturely at 38 weeks to save the lives of the mother and the baby.
Prof. Otim was non-committal in giving the exact number of babies who die due to gestational diabetes saying “The number is very high here in Mulago, but I cannot give you the exact figures because this will alarm the public and make them very worried.â€
Risk factors that may lead to a diabetic baby
Dr. Ian Mwambu says pregnant women with gestational diabetes may develop type 2 diabetes and then the baby may acquire type 2 diabetes later in life if not controlled.
He explains that gestational diabetes is common in women who are overweight or obese and is common in people older than 40, but can also develop in young pregnant mothers.
Dr. Mwambu explains that other risk factors for gestational diabetes include:
Having a family history of gestational diabetes (parent, sister, brother or child)
Having impaired glucose tolerance levels when you are pregnant
Being overweight or obese
Have previously given birth to a larger baby weighing over 4.5kg
“A mother will have to breastfeed her baby within 30 minutes of delivery to keep the baby’s sugar levels at a safe level and then every two to three hours,†says Dr. Mwambu.
Treatment of gestational diabetes
Dr. Mwambu explains that about one to two women out of 10 will not be able to control their gestational diabetes with diet and exercise so they will need injections or tablets.
Screening centres include:
Kadic Hospital in Ntinda
Mulago Hospital Endocrine Unit
Mbale Referral Hospital Endocrine Unit
Kabale Referral Hospital Endocrine Unit
Gulu Referral Hospital Endocrine Unit
Arua Hospital Endocrine Unit
Soroti Referral Hospital Endocrine Unit
International Hospital Kampala
Screening costs from Ush10,000 to Ush20, 000 in private health facilities and free in government health facilities.
Symptoms of gestational diabetes
Dr. Ian Mwambu, of the Endocrine Unit at Mbale Regional Hospital says gestational diabetes has few symptoms and is commonly diagnosed by screening during pregnancy.
“It is almost impossible for a mother or anybody to know that a pregnant mother has gestational diabetes. It may develop during pregnancy and disappear after birth,†he adds.
He reveals that the disappearance gives way to full type 2 diabetes because “it permanently inserts genes of diabetes in a mother. It is advisable to follow such mothers.â€
Prof. Otim adds that there are some symptoms of gestational diabetes that include:
Being thirsty a lot of the time.
lPassing large amounts of urine.
Fatigue
Womakuyu writes...
The media has been awash with reports about a local celebrity giving birth to a child with diabetes. The reports sparked debate the public with people wondering if it is possible for a child to be born with diabetes and whether the condition can be controlled.
Prof. Andrew Otim, the chairman of the Uganda Diabetes Association, this is not a surprise. “The baby was born to a mother with gestational diabetes,†he explains.
Gestational diabetes is a condition in which women without previously diagnosed diabetes exhibit high blood sugar levels during pregnancy. He says gestational diabetes maybe caused by hormones produced during pregnancy which block the action of insulin leading to a high sugar blood level.
Some mothers may eat mostly sugary foods that increase sugar levels in blood beyond limit.
“The high blood sugar levels are then passed on to the foetus in a desperate attempt to create a balance or control. But the baby gets too much of it, leading to diabetes which develops into type 2 diabetes when the baby is an adult,†explains Prof. Otim.
Prof. Otim says 20% of the women globally are at risk of gestational diabetes.
Four out of five babies born with diabetes suffer respiratory complications and infections.
Prof. Otim reveals that in Mulago Hospital, there is a high death rate of children born of mothers with gestational diabetes and the ones who survive often develop type 2 diabetes
“If not treated, the mother may often have diabetic babies. However, such babies can be saved if the health workers continue to monitor and control sugar levels,†he adds.
He says such babies are born pre-maturely and are bigger than their normal age and weigh over 4kg, than the normal baby.
Prof. Otim explains that if the doctors know that a mother often experiences gestational diabetes, they perform a C-section to deliver the baby pre-maturely at 38 weeks to save the lives of the mother and the baby.
Prof. Otim was non-committal in giving the exact number of babies who die due to gestational diabetes saying “The number is very high here in Mulago, but I cannot give you the exact figures because this will alarm the public and make them very worried.â€
Risk factors that may lead to a diabetic baby
Dr. Ian Mwambu says pregnant women with gestational diabetes may develop type 2 diabetes and then the baby may acquire type 2 diabetes later in life if not controlled.
He explains that gestational diabetes is common in women who are overweight or obese and is common in people older than 40, but can also develop in young pregnant mothers.
Dr. Mwambu explains that other risk factors for gestational diabetes include:
Having a family history of gestational diabetes (parent, sister, brother or child)
Having impaired glucose tolerance levels when you are pregnant
Being overweight or obese
Have previously given birth to a larger baby weighing over 4.5kg
“A mother will have to breastfeed her baby within 30 minutes of delivery to keep the baby’s sugar levels at a safe level and then every two to three hours,†says Dr. Mwambu.
Treatment of gestational diabetes
Dr. Mwambu explains that about one to two women out of 10 will not be able to control their gestational diabetes with diet and exercise so they will need injections or tablets.
Screening centres include:
Kadic Hospital in Ntinda
Mulago Hospital Endocrine Unit
Mbale Referral Hospital Endocrine Unit
Kabale Referral Hospital Endocrine Unit
Gulu Referral Hospital Endocrine Unit
Arua Hospital Endocrine Unit
Soroti Referral Hospital Endocrine Unit
International Hospital Kampala
Screening costs from Ush10,000 to Ush20, 000 in private health facilities and free in government health facilities.
Symptoms of gestational diabetes
Dr. Ian Mwambu, of the Endocrine Unit at Mbale Regional Hospital says gestational diabetes has few symptoms and is commonly diagnosed by screening during pregnancy.
“It is almost impossible for a mother or anybody to know that a pregnant mother has gestational diabetes. It may develop during pregnancy and disappear after birth,†he adds.
He reveals that the disappearance gives way to full type 2 diabetes because “it permanently inserts genes of diabetes in a mother. It is advisable to follow such mothers.â€
Prof. Otim adds that there are some symptoms of gestational diabetes that include:
Being thirsty a lot of the time.
lPassing large amounts of urine.
Fatigue