Hello Diabetes: “Women and Diabetes” on the occasion of International Women’s Day

Globally 8th March is marked as the “International Women’s Day”, while in India 10th March is being recognized as National “Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (GDM) Awareness day” on the occasion of birthday of Dr. V. Seshiah (Padmashri), who has done the pioneering work in the field of pregnancy diabetes in our country. High blood glucose in mother during pregnancy enters into foetal circulation which stimulates beta cells of foetus to secret insulin, causing hyperinsulinemia in the developing foetus. This increases the risk of developing non-communicable diseases like diabetes, obesity, hypertension & heart disease in their adolescent & adult life. Early detection & intense treatment of high glucose of pregnancy can save these children from developing diabetes in future, which is termed as “Primordial Prevention”. Thus every pregnant woman should be screened for diabetes at the first antenatal visit. Also, 50% of GDM women develop frank diabetes in 1-5 years after delivery. So, after delivery every GDM women should screen herself for diabetes after 6 weeks, 6 months and then annually to avoid future complications. “If you educate a man, you educate a man but if you educate a woman, you educate the generations,” said Dr. Gupta, on this occasion, while emphasizing upon the mission education of hello diabetes. Recorded on 8th March 2024.