Microalbuminuria in Women with Risk Factors for Gestational Diabetes Mellitus in Some Selected Hospitals in Sokoto, Nigeria

Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is a common metabolic abnormality which affects approximately 2-5% of pregnancies. Risk factors such as previous infants with macrosomia, strong family history of type 2 diabetes or GDM, poor glycaemic control and high pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI) have been implicated in the development of GDM. This study was conducted to determine the prevalence of Microalbumnuria in women with risk factors for GDM and to estimate the levels of Urinary Microalbumin in these women. Fifty (50) pregnant women with risk factors for GDM and 50 controls (pregnant women without risk factors for GDM) were evaluated for Microalbuminuria. Microalbuminuria was estimated using Turbidimetric method, Random Plasma Glucose was estimated using Glucose oxidase method, serum Urea was estimated using Diacetyl Monoxime method, Creatinine was estimated using Jaffe Slot method and Albumin was estimated using Bromo Cresol Green method. The prevalence of Microalbuminuria in women with risk factors for GDM was 22%. Urinary microalbumin was significantly higher in the study subjects (56.36 ± 8.44 mg/L) than in the control (17.32 ± 4.5) mg/L. The mean ± standard error of mean of random plasma glucose in the study subjects was (5.84 ± 0.16) mmol/L and that of the control was (4.33 ± 0.14) mmol/L. The mean ± standard error of mean Serum Urea, Creatinine and Albumin were (4.1 ± 0.15) mmol/L, (0.70 ± 0.03) mg/dL, and (3.06 ± 0.05) g/dL respectively while that of the control was (3.47 ± 0.13) mmol/L, (0.63 ± 0.01) mg/dL and (2.78 ± 0.09) g/dL respectively. Obesity was strongly correlated to microalbuminuria.