Parliament Question: Incidence of Gestational Diabetes Mellitus

GOVERNMENTOFINDIA MINISTRYOFHEALTH AND FAMILYWELFARE DEPARTMENTOFHEALTH AND FAMILYWELFARE LOK SABHA UNSTARREDQUESTION NO.3314 TO BE ANSWERED ON07.08.2026 INCIDENCE OFGESTATIONALDIABETES MELLITUS 3314. SHRIESWARASAMYK: Will the MINISTER OFHEALTHAND FAMILYWELFAREbe pleased tostate: (a) whether the Government is aware of the rising incidence of Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (GDM) among pregnant women in India as indicated by recent clinical studies and nationalhealthsurveys, if so, the detailsthereof; (b) the prevalencedata on GDMreported during the last five years, year-wiseandState-wise; (c) whether the Government hastakennote of the significant variation betweenNFHSsurvey findings and hospital-based clinical estimates indicating possible under-diagnosis of GDM inthe country, if so, the detailsthereof; and (d) the steps taken by the Government under the National Health Mission (NHM), RMNCH+A framework and other maternal health programmes to ensure universal screening, early diagnosis and effective management of GDM at the primary healthcare level? ANSWER THE MINISTER OFSTATE IN THE MINISTRYOFHEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE (SMT. ANUPRIYAPATEL) (a) to (c) The details of the ICMR-INDIAB National Study (ICMR-INDIAB-24) conducted on Prevalence of Gestational Diabetes Mellitus in India is available in the following link: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12744553/ (d) Under National Health Mission (NHM), the Government of India has taken various initiatives/steps to ensure universal screening, early diagnosis and effective management of GDM at the primaryhealthcare level,which placedasbelow;  The Government of India has released Guidelines on Diagnosis and Management of Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (GDM) in pregnant women in 2014 and revised Guidelines in2018.  Financial assistance is provided to States/UTs for ensuring the availability of logistics for GDM screening and for capacity-building of frontline healthcare providers, includingMedical Officers, Staff Nurses, Community Health Officers (CHOs), Auxiliary Nurse Midwives (ANMs), andAccreditedSocialHealth Activists (ASHAs).  Universal screening for Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (GDM) through the Oral Glucose Tolerance Test (OGTT) has been incorporated into the essential antenatal care (ANC) packagefor allpregnant women.  Pregnant women identified as GDM are tracked till 45th day of delivery under Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matritva Abhiyan (PMSMA/Extended-PMSMA). Further, incentives are provided to ASHAand High Risk Pregnant (HRP) women for 3 additional follow-ups visit.  Implementation and progress of GDM screening are monitored through supportive fieldvisits andperiodic National andStatelevelreviewmeetings.  Universal GDM screening is promoted through regular Information, Education and Communication (IEC) and Behaviour Change Communication (BCC) activities to enhanceawareness andencourage earlydetectionandtimelymanagement. *****