LAHORE: High blood pressure and diabetes during pregnancy are not only a cause of serious risks for the pregnant women but also a threat to the health of babies. Because of these issues, the chance of miscarriage increases while if the blood glucose level exceeds the required limit, other complications may also arise like protein secretion in the urine and swelling of the body.

This was stated by Ameeruddin Medical College Principal Prof Dr Muhammad Al-Fareed Zafar while delivering a special lecture on “Problems caused by gestational diabetes in women and preventive measures”. Gynecologists and medical students were present in large numbers.

Dr Zafar highlighted that pregnant women should keep in touch with doctors for the health of their babies. He said a gynecologist should continue to undergo proper medical examination and go through necessary tests to diagnose any complication in time and treat it. If the mother and child are healthy during pregnancy, the child will be born in the form of a normal baby, he said.

“We should realise that if a baby is born with any disability or medical problem that will be a burden not only for the parents but also for the society.”

Dr Al-Fareed Zafar said that due to the complications caused by diabetes during pregnancy, the child’s growth could stop and the weight of the newborn baby might be extremely low or excessive which posed risks to the life of the mother and her kid while the doctors had to do C-section on an emergency basis. He added that due to diabetes, a pregnant woman might also suffer from blood pressure which might affect other organs of the child and cause heart disease.

“Some women are already suffering from Type 2 diabetes before pregnancy so such women must consult their doctor while planning for the child so that the diabetes does not become severe during pregnancy.”

The LGH principal said many women temporarily suffered from Type 2 diabetes during pregnancy but the diabetes would naturally end after the birth of the child.

“Complications arise in the mother and child during pregnancy. There may be cases in which the child may be born abnormal and the growth and weight gain of the child in the mother’s womb may stop. In some cases due to the complications of diabetes, the child gains more weight, which not only becomes a threat to the life of the child but also causes serious health hazards for the mother,” he added.

Due to women’s lack of knowledge of health principles, the complications increased in the life of mother and child, at the same time seriously threatened and the possibility of disability increased.

Health professionals should also come forward in this regard and play their effective role to create more awareness among people so that a healthy society could be created, Prof Zafar concluded.

Published in Dawn, November 11th, 2024