A 32-year-old pregnant woman who was diagnosed with high blood sugar at 28 weeks of pregnancy did not receive any treatment despite experiencing symptoms such as excessive thirst and frequent urination. By the time she reached the 40th week, her fetal heart rate had slowed down, leading to a stillbirth.
The patient had undergone four pregnancies before this one, with one miscarriage and one child weighing 4 kg. However, she did not consider her high blood sugar levels to be serious and did not seek medical attention until it was too late.
Upon admission to Bach Mai Hospital, doctors found that the patient had various risk factors for diabetes, including a family history of type 2 diabetes, a previous history of giving birth to a large baby, large fetus size, polyhydramnios, high blood sugar levels, and symptoms of diabetes. Her HbA1C test result upon admission showed high blood sugar levels from about 3-4 months ago.
This unfortunate outcome highlights the importance of screening pregnant women for gestational diabetes early on in their pregnancy. Doctors advise that pregnant women without diabetes at their initial prenatal check-ups should be re-checked at 24-28 weeks for any signs of gestational diabetes. If diagnosed, immediate treatment through diet, exercise, monitoring blood sugar levels at home and regular consultations with an endocrinologist are necessary to ensure a healthy pregnancy.