Comparison of Hyperglycemic Effects of Antenatal Administration of Dexamethasone in Gestational Diabetes: A Study of Recommended Versus Predicted Split Doses Regimens

Objective: To compare three consecutive days of hyperglycemic response following antenatal Dexamethasone regimens of 12mg or 6mg in diet-controlled gestational diabetes, administered for fetal lung maturity. Study Design: Quasi-experimental study Place and Duration of Study: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Combined Military Hospital, Kharian Pakistan, from Oct 2020 to Mar 2021. Methodology: Forty women who met inclusion criteria were selected and assigned to two Groups. Group-A was administered quartered 24 mg steroids 6 hours daily, and Group-B was administered halved 24mg 12 hours daily. Blood sugar levels (BSL) were recorded before and after meals, thrice a day for three consecutive days, and on proforma. Results: Among the selected patients, the mean age was 25.5±2.9 years, and the mean gestational age (duration of pregnancy) was 30.3±2.0 weeks. Out of six blood sugar levels recorded daily for three consecutive days, the episodes of hyperglycemia in the (Group-B) 12-hourly steroid dose were found to be less significant than those in the (Group-A) split 6-hourly dose. Conclusion: The recommended 12 mg, twice-a-day regimen of antenatal corticosteroids was better than the proposed 6mg, four times a day regimen as it caused fewer hyperglycemic episodes in gestational diabetics.