As northern India suffers from heavy air pollution, a new study has shown that the use of solid fuels such as coal, crop residues and wood for cooking and heating significantly increases the risk of gestational diabetes. Can increase in – which occurs in pregnancy.
Diabetes mellitus (GDM) is a common complication during pregnancy. Women with GDM are at increased risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes, and future risk of diabetes.
Babies born also run a long-term risk of childhood obesity and type 2 diabetes.
The study, led by researchers at Zuni Medical University in China, involved 4,338 women, with an average age of 27. 302 of these women have GDM.
Pregnant women using solid fuels for heating had a higher risk of GDM than those using clean energy.
The results, published in the journal Scientific Reports, show that pregnant mothers with GDM have lower prenatal BMI. They also observed significant differences in physical activity and sleep duration compared to pregnant women without GDM.
“Our study showed that household solid-fuel use increases the susceptibility to GDM. This offers a new perspective on the adverse effects of indoor air pollution on pregnant women,” the researchers said.
However, leading a healthy lifestyle showed profound differences.
When a healthy lifestyle was included such as proper diet, adequate sleep, normal weight, and the incidence rate of GDM decreased.
Higher consumption of vegetables and fruits, and proper vitamin D supplementation also helped reduce the risk of GDM.
“This suggests that adherence to a healthy lifestyle may reduce the risk of GDM in pregnant women exposed to household air pollution,” the researchers said.
The study comes at a time when the air quality in the national capital has deteriorated to severe and extremely poor levels in the past few days.
According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), Delhi’s air quality remained in the ‘very poor’ category on Saturday with thick smog in the capital.