Special clinics to check rise of diabetes among expectant mothers

Increasing number of expectant mothers in the state are being diagnosed with diabetes.

To address this peak in gestation diabetes, specialised clinics have been planned by hospitals.

Two Diabetes in Pregnancy (DIP) clinics will be set up in the city, one in Bangalore Medical College and another in Divakars Speciality hospital.

"The clinics to be launched by April 1 are initiated by the Asian Research and Training Institute for Skill Transfer (ARTIST) along with the state and central government support," said Dr Hema Divakar, CEO and chairperson of ARTIST.

She added that six clinics will be set up across the country in two hospitals -one private and another government hospital- in Pune, Kanpur, Lucknow apart from Bengaluru.

"We have integrated it with the antenatal care package and linked to NCD (Non-Communicable Diseases) clinics," said Dr Dinesh Baswal, deputy commissioner, maternal health (in-charge), the ministry of health and family welfare, government of India.

According to doctors, urban Karnataka has 14% to 16% of pregnant women diagnosed with diabetes while it is 9.2% among the rural population

ARTIST has also launched an initiative called 'sweetheart.' It prompts pregnant women to keep a check on diabetes throughout their pregnancy period.

DH News Service