Haematological and Anthropometric Profile in Gestational Diabetes Mellitus with Non-diabetic Pregnant Women in Port Harcourt, Nigeria

Aim: Haematological and anthropometric profile of pregnant women who had gestational diabetes and non-diabetic pregnant women attending antenatal clinic in a Tertiary Hospital in Rivers State, Nigeria were evaluated,

Methods: This was a cross sectional study involving 70 pregnant women comprising of 40 diabetic and 30 non-diabetics for the purpose of comparing haematological and anthropometrical parameters in diabetic and non-diabetic pregnant women. Using standard venipuncture technique,5ml blood sample was aseptically drawn from the subjects and 2.5ml dropped into each of two different anticoagulant sample bottles -Ethylene Diamine Tetra acetic Acid(EDTA) and fluoride-oxalate bottles respectively. The methods of choice for estimation of parameters were Enzymatic Colorimetric method for glucose and Automation using Sysmex KX-21N Haematology Analyzer for full blood count. Results were statistically analyzed using Graph Pad prism version 5.0 and statistical significance set at P<0.05.

Results: Mean± SD results for diabetic and non-diabetic pregnant women respectively showed Haemoglobin concentration (10.99±0.69g/dl versus 10.69±1.01g/dl), Packed cell volume (31.7±1.96% versus 32.89±3.89%), Red blood cell(3.99±0.29106/µl versus 3.85±0.39×106/µl), Mean cell haemoglobin (27.51±1.22pg versus 27.54±2.22pg), Platelets count (223.3±52.67103/µl versus 205.5±45.09×103/µl), Mean cell haemoglobin concentrations(34.49±1.19g/dl versus 32.54±3.17g/dl)these results were not statistically significantly different(P>0.05). The mean± SD of white blood cell (9.73±0.49103/µl versus 7.27±1.66×103/µl) and mean cell volume (79.3±4.16 fl and 85.24±0.39fl) were statistically significantly different (P<0.05).Mean± SD of subject’s blood pressure showed, Systolic (116±11.52 mm/Hg and 105±5.72 mm/Hg),Diastolic (77±17.86 and 68±1.11 mm/Hg), results were statistically significantly different (P<0.001).Age did not show statistical significant difference (P>0.05).Body mass index (BMI) 28.33±3.81 kg/m2, 32.86±5 kg/m2, 37.96±.3.44 kg/m2 showed statistically significant difference (P<0.05) at the Gestational ages of(1-3), (4-6) and (7-9) months respectively while that of the non-diabetic were obviously not statistically significantly different (P>0.05).

Conclusion: Gestational diabetes is capable of causing changes in haematological parameters; but it could improve or disappear after child birth. Factors such as lifestyle activities and diet can predispose pregnant women to gestational diabetes mellitus and this can lead to complications for both the mother and the baby.