Diet and lifestyle of UAE jeopardized health of Indian mother-to-be

Though her blood was sugar high, the woman didn’t have any symptoms and did not know she had a problem.

ABU DHABI // N M, a 26-year-old Indian mother-to-be, developed pre-diabetes after gaining nearly 10 kilograms after moving to the UAE two years ago.

“I gained weight after I got married, but I didn’t have diabetes. After coming here my lifestyle changed and the quality of food changed. I started having irregular periods and at it was then that I consulted a doctor,” she said.

Tests found her blood sugar levels were very high and she was immediately prescribed medication.

“My blood sugar was high even before I was pregnant. I thought I was having irregular periods due to polycystic ovaries. After coming here my lifestyle changed,” she said, adding she was used to cooking with fresh ingredients back home but had to rely on fast or frozen food in the UAE.

Her doctor advised her to control her diet and take regular exercise, which stuck to for a month.

As she is now pregnant, her medication has been increased while she has to check her blood sugar levels regularly.

Though her blood was sugar high, she didn’t have any symptoms and did not know she had a problem.

Dr Gowri Ramanathan, head of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Consultant Fetal Medicine specialist at Danat Al Emarat Hospital for Women and Children, said she sees many pregnant women suffering from type two diabetes .

This form of diabetes can create complications for the mother and baby as the placenta produces its own sugar and hormones. For the mother, sugar control becomes more difficult and insulin resistance might develop.

“The baby is bathed in sugar and if the sugar levels are high from very early on, there may be congenital abnormalities that the baby might have. The baby may develop abnormally and may be too big or too small in size. This can complicate the delivery of the child,” said Dr Ramanathan.

Many women suffer from gestational diabetes during pregnancy, but this goes after the pregnancy. Between 2-3 per cent of women are affected by gestational diabetes during pregnancy.

The doctor stressed the significance of pre-conception control for women with type two diabetes.

“It’s very important to get that control early on. We prevent a problem by making sure the sugar levels are fine before pregnancy,” said Ramanathan.

“Most of us spend a lot of time are at work. Obesity is a problem with this population increasing risk.”