Abstract

Background: The incidence of glucose intolerance in Sudanese pregnant women was found to be within the universal estimates. BMI is considered by many authors a risk factor for pregnancy glucose intolerance. Regarding the diversity of the Sudanese population, international screening and diagnosis criteria of glucose intolerance may not apply. Materials and Methods: This case-control cross-sectional study has recruited pregnant women at Dream Maternity Hospital (n=73) as well as nonpregnant women as control group (n=67). Blood samples were collected from all study units chosen by convenient sampling method and analyzed for blood glucose concentration using spectrophotometry and glucose oxidase-peroxidase kits. Results obtained were analyzed using SPSS (ANOVA). Results: Mean age in the pregnant women group was 29.8 years and in the control group was 25.4 years. 30.1% of the pregnant women were in their first trimester, 37% in their second trimester and 32.9% in their third trimester. Regarding body mass index in pregnant and control groups (BMI), it ranged 17.2-42.4Kg/m2(mean 27.04kg/m2) According to the classification of Gray DS and Fujioka K (1991), 2 women (1.4%) were underweight (BMI 18.5 Kg/m2), 48(34.3%) were in the normal range (BMI18.5-24.9Kg/m2) 49(35%) were overweight (BMI25-29.9Kg/m2), 32 (22.9%) were class 1 obese (BMI 30-34.9Kg/m2), 7(5%) were class 2 obese (BMI35-39.9Kg/m2) and 2 (1.4%) were class3 obese (BMI 40Kg/m2). No significant difference was noted when blood glucose levels were compared in both groups (p=0.502). Conclusion: BMI does not affect glucose tolerance in Sudanese pregnant women.