Survey of diabetologists and obstetricians’ practice patterns related to care for gestational diabetes mellitus during the COVID-19 pandemic in India

Aim: There are limited data on the management of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. This survey was carried out in India to understand the practice patterns of diabetologists and obstetricians (OBs) during the pandemic. Materials and Methods:...

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Main Authors: Balaji Bhavadharini, Ram Uma, Ranjit M Anjana, Viswanathan Mohan
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications 2021-01-01
Series:Journal of Diabetology
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.journalofdiabetology.org/article.asp?issn=2078-7685;year=2021;volume=12;issue=5;spage=59;epage=65;aulast=Bhavadharini
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author Balaji Bhavadharini
Ram Uma
Ranjit M Anjana
Viswanathan Mohan
author_facet Balaji Bhavadharini
Ram Uma
Ranjit M Anjana
Viswanathan Mohan
author_sort Balaji Bhavadharini
collection DOAJ
description Aim: There are limited data on the management of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. This survey was carried out in India to understand the practice patterns of diabetologists and obstetricians (OBs) during the pandemic. Materials and Methods: An online questionnaire was designed, and the link to the survey was shared with doctors through email. Questions were related to the diagnosis and management of GDM both before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. Results: A total of 117 diabetologists and 90 OBs from different parts of India participated in the survey. During the COVID-19 pandemic, diabetologists carried out higher random glucose and HbA1c tests and lower numbers of oral glucose tolerance tests (OGTTs), but differences compared with before COVID-19 were nonsignificant. The OBs reported doing a significantly lower number of OGTTs (85.6% vs. 95.6%, P = 0.02) and significantly more HbA1c tests (16.7% vs. 5.6%, P = 0.03) and self-monitoring of blood glucose (59.4% vs. 37.1%, P < 0.0001) during the pandemic, than earlier. Although 97% of all the doctors surveyed reported using some form of telemedicine, several challenges were identified. Conclusion: The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in changes in the management of women with GDM. The use of digital technologies could help improve the care of women with GDM during such pandemics.
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spelling doaj.art-26a5b2779ebd43dd97ffeb9e430407322022-12-21T18:49:39ZengWolters Kluwer Medknow PublicationsJournal of Diabetology2078-76852021-01-01125596510.4103/jod.jod_106_20Survey of diabetologists and obstetricians’ practice patterns related to care for gestational diabetes mellitus during the COVID-19 pandemic in IndiaBalaji BhavadhariniRam UmaRanjit M AnjanaViswanathan MohanAim: There are limited data on the management of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. This survey was carried out in India to understand the practice patterns of diabetologists and obstetricians (OBs) during the pandemic. Materials and Methods: An online questionnaire was designed, and the link to the survey was shared with doctors through email. Questions were related to the diagnosis and management of GDM both before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. Results: A total of 117 diabetologists and 90 OBs from different parts of India participated in the survey. During the COVID-19 pandemic, diabetologists carried out higher random glucose and HbA1c tests and lower numbers of oral glucose tolerance tests (OGTTs), but differences compared with before COVID-19 were nonsignificant. The OBs reported doing a significantly lower number of OGTTs (85.6% vs. 95.6%, P = 0.02) and significantly more HbA1c tests (16.7% vs. 5.6%, P = 0.03) and self-monitoring of blood glucose (59.4% vs. 37.1%, P < 0.0001) during the pandemic, than earlier. Although 97% of all the doctors surveyed reported using some form of telemedicine, several challenges were identified. Conclusion: The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in changes in the management of women with GDM. The use of digital technologies could help improve the care of women with GDM during such pandemics.http://www.journalofdiabetology.org/article.asp?issn=2078-7685;year=2021;volume=12;issue=5;spage=59;epage=65;aulast=Bhavadharinicovid-19covid-19 surveydiabetologist obsgestational diabetes mellitusindiapractice pattern during pandemictelemedicine for gdm
spellingShingle Balaji Bhavadharini
Ram Uma
Ranjit M Anjana
Viswanathan Mohan
Survey of diabetologists and obstetricians’ practice patterns related to care for gestational diabetes mellitus during the COVID-19 pandemic in India
Journal of Diabetology
covid-19
covid-19 survey
diabetologist obs
gestational diabetes mellitus
india
practice pattern during pandemic
telemedicine for gdm
title Survey of diabetologists and obstetricians’ practice patterns related to care for gestational diabetes mellitus during the COVID-19 pandemic in India
title_full Survey of diabetologists and obstetricians’ practice patterns related to care for gestational diabetes mellitus during the COVID-19 pandemic in India
title_fullStr Survey of diabetologists and obstetricians’ practice patterns related to care for gestational diabetes mellitus during the COVID-19 pandemic in India
title_full_unstemmed Survey of diabetologists and obstetricians’ practice patterns related to care for gestational diabetes mellitus during the COVID-19 pandemic in India
title_short Survey of diabetologists and obstetricians’ practice patterns related to care for gestational diabetes mellitus during the COVID-19 pandemic in India
title_sort survey of diabetologists and obstetricians practice patterns related to care for gestational diabetes mellitus during the covid 19 pandemic in india
topic covid-19
covid-19 survey
diabetologist obs
gestational diabetes mellitus
india
practice pattern during pandemic
telemedicine for gdm
url http://www.journalofdiabetology.org/article.asp?issn=2078-7685;year=2021;volume=12;issue=5;spage=59;epage=65;aulast=Bhavadharini
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