International Journal of Clinical Obstetrics and Gynaecology

Background: A condition known as gestational diabetes mellitus occurs when there is any level of glucose intolerance that begins during pregnancy or is discovered for the first-time during pregnancy. The prime purpose of identifying women with GDM is to detect the women who are at risk of developing this condition and also to decrease perinatal morbidity and mortality. In India, GDM is considered as a significant health issue with prevalence rates 4.6% to 14% in urban areas, and 1.7% to 13.2% in rural areas. India also has an estimated number of 62 million people with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Increasing number of cases with GDM also increases risk of development of type 2 diabetes mellitus later in life.

Aim: The aim of the study was to assess the platelet indices in cases of gestational diabetes mellitus & normal healthy pregnancy and to compare the various parameters among them.

Materials and Methods: This study was conducted in R. L. Jalappa Hospital in Kolar. In the study period of January 2021 to December 2022. 138 pregnant women, 69 with gestational diabetes mellitus and 69 with normal pregnancies above 20 weeks of gestation were enrolled in to the study. Complete blood investigations were sent, and the platelet indices were compared among the two groups.

Results: This study has shown a statistical difference between two groups in respect to platelet count, PDW, MPV, PCT and P-LCR. The mean platelet count of patients with GDM was 1,39,620/mm³ whereas the platelet count of normal healthy patients was 2,66,420/mm3. The mean platelet distribution width was also higher in GDM (16.22fL) as compared to normal pregnancies (11.29fL). The Mean Platelet Volume in cases of GDM was 13.71fL, in normal pregnancy it was 9.49fL, which is significantly higher in former group.

Because of the changes in the morphology of platelet, the plateletcrit is normal pregnancy is higher (0.23%) and lower in GDM women (0.21%). The value of P-LCR is increased in women with GDM (31.17%) as compared to the women without diabetes (26.35%).

Conclusion: In this present study, we have found that low platelet count and increased MPV, PDW and P-LCR in GDM pregnant women as compared to normal pregnant women.