TITLE:
Maternal Impact of Incidentally Diagnosed Gestational Diabetes at the Time of Delivery in a Level III Maternity Hospital in Dakar, Senegal
AUTHORS:
Moussa Diallo, Khalifa Ababacar Gueye, Abdoulaye Diallo, Abdoul Aziz Diouf, Youssoupha Touré, Mouhamed Sene, Anna Dia, Nicole Fatou Bintou Sow Gakou, Alassane Diouf
KEYWORDS:
Gestational Diabetes Mellitus, Fortuitous Diagnosis, Maternal Morbidity, Risk Factors, Cesarean Section, Senegal
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology,
Vol.16 No.2,
February
14,
2026
ABSTRACT: Background: Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is a common pregnancy complication associated with increased maternal and perinatal morbidity. In low-resource settings, inadequate screening may lead to late or fortuitous diagnosis, sometimes occurring during labor without prior management. Objective: To assess the maternal impact of gestational diabetes fortuitously diagnosed in the delivery room among women with or without classical risk factors defined by the International Association of Diabetes and Pregnancy Study Groups (IADPSG). Methods: A retrospective descriptive and analytical study was conducted from 2018 to 2023 at the Pikine National Hospital Center, a level III maternity unit in Dakar, Senegal. Included were women not previously known to be diabetic who delivered in the department and had a fasting plasma glucose ≥ 0.92 g/L, with or without classical GDM risk factors, and without prior management. Sociodemographic data, risk factors, maternal complications during pregnancy and delivery, and mode of delivery were analyzed. Statistical analysis was performed using STATA 12, with p Results: Eighty percent of women had at least one classical IADPSG risk factor. The presence of at least one risk factor significantly increased the likelihood of maternal complications (OR = 14.39; p = 0.01), without a significant effect on fetal complications. Hypertensive disorders were the most frequent maternal complications (14.45%). Most pregnancies reached term. The cesarean section rate was 41% and was significantly associated with the number of risk factors, maternal glycemic level, and fetal macrosomia. No cases of postpartum hemorrhage or maternal death were recorded. Conclusion: Fortuitously diagnosed gestational diabetes at delivery is associated with significant maternal morbidity, particularly in women with classical risk factors. Early and systematic screening of GDM, including in women without apparent risk factors, is essential to improve maternal outcomes.