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373 pregnant women diagnosed with gestational diabetes
Gestational diabetes has accounted for a vast majority of maternal deaths in Guyana, but the country’s Diabetes Care Project in collaboration with the World Diabetes Foundation has sought to change that.
The Georgetown Public Hospital Corperation (GPHC) in screening over 1,564 pregnant women, reports that of this number, 373 of these women were treated for gestational diabetes. This was reported at the Project’s fifth stakeholder’s meeting on Wednesday.
Minister within the Ministry of Health- Karen Cummings, several doctors from across the region and other medical personnel attended. Guyana has seen 24 percent of pregnant women with gestational diabetes for the year 2018.
Minister within the Ministry of Health, Karen Cummings
According to Dr. Nandlall in recent years, patients were not as aware of preventative measures and the care required for persons with the illness. However, she related that she seen a great deal of awareness in terms of how receptive society has become. Furthermore, Nandlall explained that in order for the diabetes deaths to go down, society would need to become more aware of the illness as well as how it affects the nation holistically.
Gestational diabetes is said to account for 16 to 17 percent of premature births, stillbirths and congenital amalgamations worldwide. Gestational diabetes has proven to be a major threat to pregnant women worldwide, resulting in maternal deaths and birth complications.
The event highlighted 63 outreaches, which were done by the GPHC, where 1,861 patients were screened for type two diabetes, with 312 being diagnosed with the illness. Approximately 5,183 persons have been screened for diabetic retinopathy, – vision loss due to swelling of the retina- with 1008 being diagnosed to date.
Minister Cummings expressed how crucial it was to ensure the continuity of the project, explaining that it is geared in capacity building for healthcare professionals in the areas of diagnosis and treatment of gestational diabetes.
“Since its inception, the Guyana Diabetes Care Project has been making great progress in the treatment of diabetes in Guyana. However, in order to significantly build on the gains made thus far through the diligent work done by the project, we at the Ministry of Public Health recognize that more needs to be done with the collective and collaborative involvement of all concerned stakeholders.”
Minister Cummings then suggested that during this latter period, the project is extended to health facilities in outlying regions.
Project co-coordinator, Dr. Brian Ostrow reminded stakeholders of the three main components of the project, which are screening for Diabetic Retinopathy, screening pregnant women for gestational diabetes, and the development of the Health Information Systems and public awareness programmes.
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