Authors : Poonguzhalai S, Kalyanikutty K P
DOI : 10.18231/j.ijogr.2019.074
Volume : 6
Issue : 3
Year : 2019
Page No : 342-345
Introduction: The incidence of Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (GDM) worldwide is on an increase with
approximately 40 percent between 1989 and 2004. Serum Ferritin level is an index of iron overload. This
study estimates serum Ferritin level which may contribute for the pathogenesis of GDM.
Materials and Methods: Pregnant women are divided into 2 groups those with GDM and another without
GDM by screening for Glucose challenge test. Blood sugar after 12 hours of fasting and 2 hours Post
prandial is done for diagnosis of GDM. Serum Ferritin of both groups are also estimated and compared.
Results: The mean rank of serum Ferritin in subjects with diabetes mellitus is 33.02 compared with the
mean rank of serum Ferritin in subjects without diabetes mellitus which is 27.98. Since the mean rank of
serum Ferritin in subjects with diabetes is higher, there is a positive relation between serum Ferritin and
diabetes mellitus.
Conclusion: It seems that routine administration of iron supplements to all pregnant women without
estimating serum Ferritin needs more evaluation since a positive relationshi p has been found between
GDM and increased serum Ferritin level.
Keywords: Pregnant women, GDM, Iron Stores, Serum Ferritin.