Estimation of Fasting Lipid Profile Parameters for Early Detection of Gestational Diabetes Mellitus

Background: Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is a common pregnancy complication characterized by high blood sugar levels in pregnant women who have never had diabetes before.It can have detrimental effects on both the mother and the fetus if left undiagnosed and untreated.Therefor the Study aims to evaluate the Variations in Lipid Profile Parameters Across Different Trimesters and their impact on Early Detection of Gestational Diabetes Mellitus.Methods: This prospective cohort study, conducted at the Mardan Medical Complex Teaching Hospital in Pakistan from September 2022 to November 2023, included pregnant women in their first trimester.Fasting lipid profiles were measured across three trimesters.The Oral Glucose Tolerance Test (OGTT) was utilized for GDM diagnosis.Statistical analyses employed included chi-squared tests, t-tests, Mann-Whitney U tests, ANOVA, Pearson correlation, and ROC curves with SPSS software version 27.0. Results:The study included 92 pregnant women divided into GDM and non-GDM groups.GDM Women had a higher average age 30.87±3.08 years and BMI 29.89±2.97compared to non-GDM.Lipid profile Parameters showed more significant abnormalities in GDM patients, with total cholesterol levels increasing markedly by the third trimester to 218.09±16.03mg/dL.Triglycerides rose from 158.70±7.68mg/dL to 213.11±14.96mg/dL, LDL from 93.52±13.53mg/dL to 149.26±9.72 mg/dL, and with the decrease in HDL from 47.24±4.07mg/dL to 41.83±3.05mg/dL from the first to the third trimester.Conclusion: Lipid profile parameter changes across trimesters were a reliable method for early GDM detection, offering a noninvasive tool for identifying at-risk pregnant women.