Mercy trains staff to recognize gestational diabetes

Mercy Hospital Maternity staff recently held a one day training on gestational diabetes.  Gestational diabetes mellitus occurs in women in whom diabetes commences or is recognized for the first time during pregnancy. A small proportion of such women may have had occult diabetes before pregnancy.

Dr. Amara explained why he felt the class was needed. "The reason for this topic came as a result of diagnosing a pregnant woman who came with classical symptoms (polyuria, polylepsia and weight loss).  I ordered  a random sugar to be done which happened to be 12.5mmol/L (higher than normal). 

"I asked the charge nurse of the maternity ward the incidence of gestational diabetes at Mercy, and her response was she had never diagnosed one.

"I came to the conclusion that there may be gestational diabetes coming at Mercy but they may be missed.  This was an awareness training for staff at the Maternity to pay attention to the cardinal signs of gestational Diabetes." 

The training was conducted and facilitated by Dr. Amara and Sister Augusta, hospital matron.