Hyderabad: As the World Health Day approaches on Monday, the focus this year is on the health of mothers and newborns, highlighting a concerning trend of rising gestational diabetes among expectant mothers in Telangana. Approximately one in every six pregnant women in the state is affected by diabetes during pregnancy, posing risks to both the mother and the newborn.
Gestational diabetes, although believed to resolve after childbirth, can still have significant impacts on the health of both the mother and the child, according to Dr. Rakesh Sahay, the superintendent of Osmania Hospital. Women identified as high-risk may continue to experience diabetes even after pregnancy, emphasizing the importance of vigilance towards lifestyle and dietary choices.
The prevalence of gestational diabetes is particularly common among those with a family history of diabetes, as well as those who are overweight or have an unhealthy lifestyle. The newborns of mothers with gestational diabetes are also at risk of low blood sugar levels.
Furthermore, Telangana has seen a rate of immediate post-delivery complications at 26%, as shown by maternal morbidity clinics in the state. Launched last year, these clinics aim to provide ongoing care for women post-delivery, recognizing that postpartum complications can have long-term effects. Over 400,000 women have been evaluated in these clinics, with about 14% experiencing complications beyond the standard 42-day post-delivery period.
Health Commissioner RV Karnan stated that these clinics aim to ensure the health of both the mother and child beyond the initial postpartum period, providing screenings at primary health centers and advanced treatment at district hospitals. The initiative aims to address issues such as stress, urinary or anal incontinence, and pelvic organ prolapse, ultimately enhancing the well-being of new mothers and their newborns.
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