CERTIFICATE COURSE ON PREGESTATIONAL DIABETES MELLITUS (CCPGDM)

Pregestational diabetes mellitus (PGDM), encompassing both type 1 and type 2 diabetes diagnosed prior to pregnancy, poses significant clinical challenges for both maternal and fetal health. With the rising prevalence of diabetes among women of reproductive age in India and globally, clinicians are increasingly encountering pregnancies complicated by pre-existing hyperglycemia. These pregnancies are associated with higher risks of adverse outcomes, both for the mother as well as for the fetus. Optimal care requires careful preconception planning, good glycemic control, and coordinated multidisciplinary management throughout pregnancy and the postpartum period.

For practicing doctors, managing PGDM demands not only a strong understanding of pathophysiology, but also knowledge of evolving clinical guidelines, insulin formulations and delivery techniques, and glucose monitoring technologies.

This online course is designed to provide a comprehensive, evidence-based framework for the management of PGDM in pregnancy. It aims to equip clinicians with practical strategies for optimizing maternal glycemic control, minimizing complications, and ensuring safe maternal and neonatal outcomes through all stages of care.

The course is organized into six modules for easy and structured learning.

The first module gives an overview on PGDM, how it differs from gestational diabetes, the epidemiological aspects, risk factors, and the materno-fetal complications and their impact on labor and delivery outcome.

In the second module, the pathophysiology of PGDM is explained. Here, the maternal metabolic changes and the role of placenta during normal pregnancy, mechanisms of hyperglycemia and insulin resistance during pregnancy, and the pathogenesis of materno-fetal complications are discussed through suitable case studies.

The third module covers the topic of managing PGDM while planning pregnancy. It includes the impact of glycemic control on pregnancy outcomes, monitoring glucose levels, comprehensive diabetes evaluation prior to conception, choosing the right insulin regimen and appropriate lifestyle modifications.

The fourth module deals with various aspects related to antenatal care relevant to PGDM. It covers key screenings during pregnancy in PGDM, healthy weight gain recommendations during pregnancy​, guidelines for diet and safe physical activity during pregnancy​, glycemic monitoring and targets during pregnancy, role of oral antidiabetic drugs (especially metformin), insulin regimens during pregnancy​, managing hypoglycemic events in pregnancy​, monitoring fetal growth, and diabetic complications during pregnancy.

In the fifth module on peripartum care the topics discussed include timing and mode of delivery in women with diabetes​, importance of glycemic control during hospitalization and labor, and ​ glucose monitoring and management during labor​.

The sixth module on postnatal care covers therapies during breastfeeding​, choice of contraception​, and preventive measures and lifestyle modifications for long-term health​.

By the end of the course, the participants will gain knowledge about the various facets of PGDM, particularly achieving good maternal glycemic control, and minimizing complications for achieving safe maternal and neonatal outcomes.