Neonatal Morbidity Pattern among Infants Born to Diabetic Mothers at Jamhouria Hospital, Benghazi- Libya

Introduction: Diabetes has long been associated with maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality. The infant of a diabetic mother have higher risks for serious problems during pregnancy and at birth. Problems during pregnancy may include increased risks of abortions and stillbirths. Abnormal fetal metabolism during pregnancy complicated by maternal diabetes mellitus results in multiple neonatal sequallae, including abnormalities of growth, glucose and calcium metabolism, hematologic status, cardio- respiratory function, bilirubin metabolism, and congenital anomalies. The causes of the fetal and neonatal sequallae of maternal diabetes are Multifactorial. However, many of the perinatal complications can be traced to the effect of maternal glycemic control on the fetus & can be prevented by appropriate periconceptional & prenatal care.

Objective: to describe the morbidity pattern among infants of diabetic mothers (IDMs) either gestational or preconception diabetes mellitus.

Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted in Jamhouria hospital/ neonatal ward & enrolled 120 consecutive infants born to diabetics mother either gestational or preconception diabetes mellitus over one year period.

Results: 120 babies were diagnosed as IDMs and were admitted to Neonatal intensive care unit, male, female, 74(60.8%) were gestational diabetes, and 46 (38.3%) with preconception diabetes, full term comprise 98 cases (81.6%) while premature were 22 cases (18.3%). For birth weight 20 case [16.7%} were low birth weight, macrosomia represent 16 case (13.3%).

Most common congenital anomalies was cardiac lesion 36 cases, for GDM 18 case =24.3% were PCDM 18 case around 40.0%.

Central nervous system 11 case (9.1%) all of them dilated ventricular system& only 2 of them need surgical intervention with shunt.

Gastrointestinal anomalies 4 cases {3.4%} 2 of them ectopic anus & 2 short bowel syndrome.

Most common metabolic disturbance was Hypocalcemia 17 case (14.1%), followed by hypoglycemia 11 case (9.1%), followed with hyper bilirubinemia 3 cases (2.5%)

Followed by Respiratory distress syndrome 26 case (21.6%), 17 case hyaline membrane disease (14.1%) ,transient tachypnea of neo born 9 cases (7.5%) , Birth trauma 3 cases Erb,s palsy one of them birth asphyxia.

Conclusion: Most common type of diabetes in pregnancy is gestational diabetes, and most common congenital anomalies is the cardiac lesion & the most common metabolic disturbance is the hypocalcemia. Macrosomia associated with large birth weight as well as birth trauma. Large for gestational age and hypoglycemia associated mainly with poor maternal glycemic control.