Effect of varying degrees of "normal" glucose metabolism on maternal and perinatal outcome

Prior studies concerning effects of varying degrees of normal glucose metabolism on pregnancy have reported an increase in the incidence of a variety of pregnancy complications in women with normal oral glucose tolerance test results as the glucose concentration after a standardized meal rose. However, these investigations have neglected to include a control group of women with gestational diabetes for comparison. We theorized that if the adverse outcomes noted were indeed a reflection of glucose concentration, women with gestational diabetes should have an even higher incidence of these complications. Mother and infant charts of 312 consecutive women undergoing an oral glucose tolerance test were reviewed. A glucose challenge test preceded the oral glucose tolerance test in 310. The glucose challenge test value was less than 140 mg/dl in 64 and greater than or equal to 140 mg/dl in 246. There were 63 abnormal oral glucose tolerance test results (2.7% of the population studied). Among all patients, the relationship between glucose challenge test and oral glucose tolerance test values followed a gradient with a progressive rise in mean oral glucose tolerance test values when the glucose challenge test result was greater than or equal to 160 mg/dl. However, the incidence of an abnormal oral glucose tolerance test result did not rise significantly until the glucose challenge test result exceeded 180 mg/dl. A wide variety of outcome parameters were studied; none were related to the glucose challenge test value. Similar analysis of the 2-hour oral glucose tolerance test value revealed an increase in the incidence of nonelective operative deliveries and a decrease in the percentage of infants discharged home with their mother where values were greater than 180 mg/dl. However, when women with gestational diabetes were excluded from analysis, neither the glucose challenge test nor the 2-hour glucose tolerance test measurements were related to adverse outcome. When analysis was limited to women with gestational diabetes, there was no clinically significant relationship between either glucose challenge test or 2-hour glucose tolerance test and the outcome parameters. Finally, when analysis was repeated according to diagnosis, women with gestational diabetes had a significantly higher risk of having nonelective operative delivery, premature delivery, growth-retarded neonate, 1-minute Apgar score less than 7, and neonatal hypoglycemia than women with normal oral glucose tolerance test results.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)     

The significance of one abnormal glucose tolerance test value on adverse outcome in pregnancy

A matched control study of 126 women equally divided into three groups (normal oral glucose tolerance test, one abnormal test value, and gestational diabetes mellitus) was undertaken to examine the relationships among oral glucose tolerance test results, glycemic control in pregnancy, and adverse perinatal outcome. Characterization of metabolic control for the one abnormal oral glucose tolerance test value and the gestational diabetes mellitus groups (before treatment) showed no significant difference. After the start of treatment, however, a significant (p less than 0.01) difference between the groups in level of control was found. While no significant difference in the average birth weight between the three groups was discovered, the incidence of large infants (macrosomia and large for gestational age) was found to be significantly higher in the one abnormal oral glucose tolerance test group when compared with the normal (34% versus 9%; p less than 0.01) and gestational diabetes mellitus group (34% versus 12%; p less than 0.01). No significant difference for the incidence of an infant large for gestational age was found between the normal group and the patients with gestational diabetes mellitus after treatment. Neonatal metabolic disorders were found to be significantly higher for the one abnormal oral glucose tolerance test group (15%) when compared with the control and the gestational diabetes mellitus groups (3%). We conclude that, if left untreated, one abnormal value on an oral glucose tolerance test is strongly associated with adverse perinatal outcome.     

Metabolic syndrome in normal and complicated pregnancies

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the prevalence of metabolic syndrome and its components in normal and complicated pregnancies. STUDY DESIGN: Setting: university hospital, tertiary referral centre. Subjects: 90 pregnant women in four groups: 20 women with preeclampsia, 20 women with gestational hypertension, 30 women with late-onset gestational diabetes and 20 healthy pregnant women as a control group. Intervention: peripheral insulin resistance was measured by using the insulin tolerance test. Glucose, triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, blood pressure and body mass index were analysed. Comparisons were done by Chi-squared test, one-way analysis of variance and the Bonferroni's test. Prevalence of the metabolic syndrome was calculated by adapting both the WHO and the NCEP definitions of the metabolic syndrome to pregnancy. RESULTS: There were no cases of metabolic syndrome in the control group according to any of the adapted definitions. The prevalence of this syndrome was 3.3% and 10% in the late-onset gestational diabetes group, 35% and 20% in the gestational hypertension group and 30% and 30% in the preeclampsia group for the WHO and the NCEP definitions, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Metabolic syndrome is present in about one-third of women with pregnancy-induced hypertension but only in 10% of women with late-onset gestational diabetes.     

妊娠合并糖代谢异常与胎儿畸形的关系

目的:探讨妊娠合并糖代谢异常(包括妊娠期糖代谢异常和糖尿病合并妊娠)与胎儿畸形的关系。方法:分析2003年6月~2007年6月在我院分娩6194例产妇的临床资料,按50g葡萄糖筛查和75g OGTT检查结果分为GCT(+)、GIGT、GDM和DM4类,分别统计4类产妇分娩新生儿中畸形数和畸形类型。结果:DM合并妊娠胎儿畸形率显著高于血糖正常妇女(P0.05),GDM患者胎儿畸形率与血糖正常妇女比较胎儿畸形率无显著差异(P0.05),GDM患者胎儿心脏畸形发生与血糖正常妇女相比无增加(P0.05)。发生胎儿畸形的血糖异常妇女糖化血红蛋白值升高。结论:DM合并妊娠胎儿畸形率升高,GDM孕妇畸胎率与正常妇女比较无明显变化。     

Low values on 50 gram glucose challenge test or oral 100 gram glucose tolerance test are associated with good perinatal outcome.

We set out to reevaluate the hypothesis that high normal (negative) results of 50 g oral glucose challenge test or high normal glucose level on 100 g oral glucose tolerance test are associated with complications of pregnancy and delivery. This was a prospective study involving 735 nondiabetic women. The first group (n=352) was made up of pregnant women with normal 50 g oral glucose challenge test without previous history of diabetes mellitus or gestational diabetes. The second group (n=383) was made up of pregnant women without previous history of diabetes mellitus or gestational diabetes with an abnormal 50 g oral glucose challenge test and with normal 100 g oral glucose tolerance test and not more than one previous delivery. In nondiabetic women, we demonstrated a positive correlation between high normal 50 g glucose challenge test values and the incidence of preeclampsia, caesarean section rate, macrosomia, neonatal hyperlipidaemia and minor congenital abnormalities. We failed to confirm any relationship to any pregnancy complication in pregnant women with 2-hour glucose levels in the range 6.7-9.1 mmol/l on the 100 g oral glucose tolerance test. We have demonstrated a positive relationship between the incidence of premature rupture of membranes and 1-hour glucose level, caesarean section rate and maternal 1-hour glucose level or 1-hour glucose level minus fasting glucose level of 4.2 mmol/l, instrumental delivery rate and maternal 3-hour glucose level, incidence of neonatal macrosomia and 1-hour glucose level, and incidence of neonatal hyperlipidaemia and at least one high but normal glucose level on the 100 g oral glucose tolerance test. With regard to pregnancy and delivery complications there were no significant difference if the high normal value is on the 50 g glucose challenge test or on the 100 g oral glucose tolerance test. It is concluded that one high normal 100 g oral glucose tolerance test or high normal 50 g glucose challenge test are associated with adverse pregnancy and delivery outcome. Nondiabetic women with 50 g glucose challenge test value of 6.1 mmol/l and/or 100 g oral glucose tolerance test values of 5 mmol/l have a favourable pregnancy and delivery outcome.     

Predictive factors of developing diabetes mellitus in women with gestational diabetes

BACKGROUND: To investigate which factors during gestational diabetes pregnancies correlate with the risk of developing impaired glucose tolerance or diabetes 1 year postpartum and to compare this risk in women with gestational diabetes and women with a normal oral glucose tolerance test during pregnancy. METHODS: Of 315 women with gestational diabetes, defined as a 2-hr blood glucose value of at least 9.0 mmol/l at a 75-g oral glucose tolerance test, who delivered in Lund 1991-99, 229 (73%) performed a new test 1 year postpartum. We compared maternal and fetal factors during pregnancy with the test value at follow up. A control group of 153 women with a 2-hr test value below 7.8 mmol/l during pregnancy were invited to a new test 1 year postpartum and 60 (39%) accepted. RESULTS: At 1 year follow up, 31% of the women with gestational diabetes but only one of the 60 controls showed pathologic glucose tolerance and one had developed diabetes. The following factors in women with gestational diabetes were identified as predicting impaired glucose tolerance or diabetes at 1 year follow up: maternal age over 40 and--in a multiple regression analysis, independent of each other--a high 2-hr value at oral glucose tolerance test during pregnancy and insulin treatment during pregnancy. CONCLUSION: The risk of developing manifest diabetes after gestational diabetes may be high enough to justify a general screening or diagnostic procedure in all pregnant women to identify women with gestational diabetes and a postpartum follow up program for them. This study did not identify any particular factor during pregnancy with enough precision to predict a later progression to diabetes.     

Does insulin secretion in patients with one abnormal glucose tolerance test value mimic gestational diabetes mellitus?

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the insulin response to a 3-hour oral glucose tolerance test and to compare the insulin levels in the gestational diabetes mellitus and single abnormal test value groups with a nondiabetic control group. STUDY DESIGN: One hundred ten Turkish women with uncomplicated pregnancy participated in this prospective controlled study between 24 to 28 weeks of gestation. A 100-g 3-hour oral glucose tolerance test was given, and glucose and insulin plasma levels were assayed. The subjects were classified according to established criteria. Early-phase insulin secretion was assessed by the insulinogenic index. Total insulin secretion was assessed by mean insulin level during the oral glucose tolerance test; insulin resistance was assessed by fasting insulin concentration and by the use of the homeostasis model. Data were analyzed by the Student t test and 1-way analysis of variance, with posthoc Bonferroni correction. RESULTS: The fasting insulin levels of patients with normal oral glucose tolerance test results were significantly lower than those of patients with gestational diabetes mellitus and a single value abnormality (P <.001 and P <.005, respectively). The insulinogenic index as a marker of early-phase insulin secretion was significantly lower in gestational diabetes mellitus, compared with that of patients with normal oral glucose tolerance test results (P <.05). The worsening of glycemic profile from normal oral glucose tolerance test results to gestational diabetes mellitus was associated with an increase in the homeostasis model; no significant difference was found between gestational diabetes mellitus and a single value abnormality group in terms of both the homeostasis model and the insulinogenic index. Values for total insulin secretion were highest in gestational diabetes mellitus, followed by the single value abnormality group, both significantly differing from the values of patients with normal oral glucose tolerance test results (P <.001 and P <.005, respectively). CONCLUSION: In this prospective study of Turkish subjects, we found a striking similarity in terms of patient characteristics between the gestational diabetes mellitus group and the single value abnormality group. Additionally, when we used fasting insulin level and insulin resistance as 2 separate criteria of analysis, patients with single value abnormality were indistinguishable from patients with gestational diabetes mellitus; both groups were significantly different from the normal oral glucose tolerance test group. Our findings suggest that a single abnormal test value on an oral glucose tolerance test should be regarded as a pathologic finding and that the patient with a single abnormal test value may be treated similarly to the patient with gestational diabetes mellitus.     

Effect of fetal hyperinsulinism on oral glucose tolerance test results in patients with gestational diabetes mellitus

OBJECTIVE: This study was undertaken to evaluate the impact of the fetoplacental glucose steal phenomenon on the results of oral glucose tolerance testing in pregnancies complicated by gestational diabetes mellitus with fetal hyperinsulinism. STUDY DESIGN: This was an analysis of the cases of 34 patients with two consecutive abnormal oral glucose tolerance test results and amniotic fluid insulin measurement before institution of insulin therapy. Patients were divided into groups on the basis of normal versus elevated amniotic fluid insulin concentrations. RESULTS: Oral glucose tolerance tests were done at a mean (+/-SD) of 24.9 +/- 5.7 and 30.7 +/- 3.2 weeks' gestation, and amniotic fluid insulin measurements were done at 31.1 +/- 3.2 weeks' gestation. In 13 women with gestational diabetes mellitus with normal amniotic fluid insulin concentration, maternal postload blood glucose levels at 1 hour increased by 12 mg/dL (168 vs 180 mg/dL; 9.3 vs 10.0 mmol/L; P = .0006) during the course of 6 weeks. In contrast, in 21 women with gestational diabetes mellitus with elevated amniotic fluid insulin levels (>7 microU/mL; >42 pmol/L), 1-hour postload blood glucose levels decreased by 22 mg/dL (201 vs 179 mg/dL; 11.2 vs 9.9 mmol/L; P = .002) during the same period. The higher the amniotic fluid insulin level, the larger the decrease (R = 0.504; P =.02). Although low amniotic fluid insulin levels were correlated significantly with 1-hour glucose levels of the first and second oral glucose tolerance tests, high insulin levels were no longer correlated with the second oral glucose tolerance test. CONCLUSION: Exaggerated fetal glucose siphoning may provide misleading oral glucose tolerance test results in pregnancies complicated by fetal hyperinsulinism by blunting maternal postload glucose peaks. Consequently, oral glucose tolerance test results in a pregnancy complicated by gestational diabetes mellitus with a fetus that already has hyperinsulinemia may erroneously be considered normal.     

Does impaired glucose tolerance imply a risk in pregnancy?

Summary. Of 218 pregnant women with abnormal glucose tolerance by the criteria of the World Health Organization (1985) 81·2% had impaired glucose tolerance and 18·8% gestational diabetes. Gestational diabetic women were of higher parity, more obese, required insulin therapy more often, had more babies weighing >4 kg and had higher fasting plasma glucose than women with impaired glucose tolerance. Women with gestational impaired glucose tolerance were older, of higher parity, more obese and had heavier babies than pregnant women with a normal screening plasma glucose. Compared with women with impaired glucose tolerance, gestational diabetic women were more likely to have abnormality, and more severe impairment of their glucose tolerance test in the puerperium.     

Impaired glucose tolerance associated with adverse pregnancy outcome: a population-based study in southern Sweden

OBJECTIVE: We conducted a population-based study of maternal and neonatal characteristics and delivery complications in relation to the outcome of a 75-g, 2-hour oral glucose tolerance test at 25 to 30 weeks' gestation. STUDY DESIGN: An oral glucose tolerance test was offered to pregnant women in a geographically defined population. Pregnancy outcome was analyzed according to the test result. RESULTS: Among women delivered at Lund Hospital, we identified 4526 women with an oral glucose tolerance value of <7.8 mmol/L (<140 mg/dL), 131 women with a value of 7.8 to 8.9 mmol/L (140-162 mg/dL), and 116 women with gestational diabetes (> or =9.0 mmol/L [> or =162 mg/dL]). A further 28 cases of gestational diabetes were identified, giving a prevalence of 1.2%. An increased rate of cesarean delivery and infant macrosomia was observed in the group with a glucose tolerance value of 7.8 to 8.9 mmol/L (140-162 mg/dL) and in the gestational diabetes group. Advanced maternal age and high body mass index were risk factors for increased oral glucose tolerance values in 12,657 screened women in the area. CONCLUSION: The study stresses the significance of moderately increased oral glucose tolerance values.     

Assessment of glucose tolerance and pregnancy outcome of polycystic ovary patients.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the impact of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) on glucose tolerance during pregnancy and perinatal outcome. METHODS: Pregnancy records of 38 PCOS patients were compared retrospectively with 136 non-PCOS patients randomly. Patients with glucose challenge tests values of >130 mg/dl were referred for the 3-h, 100-g oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT). RESULTS: A family history of diabetes mellitus, pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI), gestational weight gain was significantly higher in PCOS patients than controls. The prevalence of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) was similar in both groups. Impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) was observed in 18.4% of PCOS patients vs. 5.1% of controls. The main predictor of GDM was found pre-pregnancy BMI >25 while main predictor of IGT was found as PCOS. Mean gestational age at delivery, prevalence of preterm labor, modes of delivery, mean birthweight, mean Apgar score at 5 min, proportion of babies admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) were similar in both groups. CONCLUSIONS: Higher IGT prevalence in PCOS patients might be related to maternal obesity and excess gestational weight gain and does not affect perinatal outcome.     

Postpartum testing for antecedent gestational diabetes

Gestational diabetes is a predictor of glucose intolerance in subsequent pregnancies and in the nongravid state. Many pregnant women are not tested for gestational diabetes, although they or their offspring may show signs suggestive of antecedent hyperglycemia. We examined the diagnostic utility of a postpartum (within 48 hours), 100 gm, oral glucose tolerance test and cord plasma glucose, cord plasma C-peptide, and 2-hour neonatal plasma glucose tests to detect antecedent gestational diabetes in women with documented gestational diabetes (n = 37) or with normal glucose tolerance test results late in the third trimester (n = 28). The 1-hour, 2-hour, and incremental 1-hour + 2-hour [( 1-hour - fasting] + [2-hour - fasting]) [2-hour - fasting]) glucose values of the postpartum glucose tolerance test showed significant differences between study participants with and without gestational diabetes (164 +/- 30 versus 115 +/- 22, 145 +/- 31 versus 101 +/- 21, and 153 +/- 51 versus 67 +/- 33 mg/dl, respectively, p less than 0.025). Maternal fasting and 3-hour postpartum glucose tolerance test glucose, cord plasma glucose, cord plasma C-peptide, and 2-hour neonatal plasma glucose values showed no significant between-group differences. Receiver operating characteristic curve analyses for these tests indicated that the incremental 1-hour + 2-hour postpartum glucose tolerance test glucose values best sustain test specificity at the low test threshold values necessary for high test sensitivity. A threshold of 110 mg/dl for this test yielded a predicted specificity of 90% and sensitivity of 80% with regard to antecedent gestational diabetes.     

Birthweight in women with potential gestational diabetes mellitus--an effect of obesity rather than glucose intolerance?

BACKGROUND: The purpose was to compare the influence of varying levels of glycemia on the perinatal outcome. METHODS: The data charts of 383 women screened for gestational diabetes mellitus with an oral glucose tolerance test during two birthyears were retrospectively evaluated. In 55 women gestational diabetes mellitus was diagnosed and treated with diet. The non-diabetic women (n=328) were subdivided into a borderline diabetes group (n=74) and a normal group (n= 254) on the basis of the oral glucose tolerance test result. The birth registry of 8196 singleton pregnancies from The Perinatal Research Unit at Skejby University Hospital served as the background population. RESULTS: Birthweight was highest in the borderline group. Weight increase during pregnancy was larger in the non-diabetic than the gestational diabetic women (15 vs. 8 kg p<0.01). The women with less increase of body weight delivered neonates with lower birthweight than those with higher increase. Birthweight was associated with maternal weight during pregnancy (p<0.01). Birthweight ratio increased with increasing glucose intolerance. Vaginal delivery rate was less and cesarean section rate higher in women with gestational diabetes mellitus compared to the non-diabetic women. No significant difference was found in the incidence of hypertensive disorders during pregnancy or neonatal morbidity. CONCLUSIONS: Even minor hyperglycemia is associated with increasing birthweight. Birthweight is reduced in GDM when dietary treatment is instituted and effect on weight gain is achieved.     

Perinatal outcome in large-for-gestational-age infants. Is it influenced by gestational impaired glucose tolerance?

OBJECTIVE: To examine the relationship between the World Health Organization category of impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) (two-hour value of the 75-g oral glucose tolerance test at 8-10.9 mmol/L) and outcome in large-for-gestational age (LGA) infants to determine whether IGT affects perinatal morbidity in addition to affecting infant size. STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective study was performed on 461 LGA newborns (birth weight > 90th percentile) from singleton pregnancies delivering after 36 completed weeks in a 12-month period to determine the difference in perinatal outcome between nondiabetic pregnancies (n = 382) and pregnancies with diet-treated IGT (n = 79). RESULTS: The IGT group had significantly higher mean maternal age, prepregnancy weight and body mass index (BMI) but lower absolute and percent gestational weight gain and no difference in infant gestational age, birth weight, BMI, incidence of macrosomia (birth weight > or = 4,000 g) or obstetric complications. However, the IGT group had an increased incidence of Erb's palsy (OR 7.81, 95% CI 1.76-34.62), meconium aspiration syndrome (OR 5.29, 95% CI 1.27-22.02), phototherapy (OR 2.10, 95% CI 1.03-5.69), sepsis (OR 2.90, 95% CI 1.25-6.74) and shoulder dystocia (OR 5.64, 95% CI 1.06-29.89) after adjusting for confounding factors (maternal age and BMI, postdate pregnancy, mode of delivery and infant sex). CONCLUSION: Despite dietary treatment, maternal IGT is associated with increased perinatal morbidity independent of its effect on fetal size.     

Does impaired glucose tolerance imply a risk in pregnancy?

Of 218 pregnant women with abnormal glucose tolerance by the criteria of the World Health Organization (1985) 81.2% had impaired glucose tolerance and 18.8% gestational diabetes. Gestational diabetic women were of higher parity, more obese, required insulin therapy more often, had more babies weighing greater than 4 kg and had higher fasting plasma glucose than women with impaired glucose tolerance. Women with gestational impaired glucose tolerance were older, of higher parity, more obese and had heavier babies than pregnant women with a normal screening plasma glucose. Compared with women with impaired glucose tolerance, gestational diabetic women were more likely to have abnormality, and more severe impairment of their glucose tolerance test in the puerperium.     

Gestational diabetes mellitus: does it recur in subsequent pregnancy?

The recurrence of glucose intolerance was examined in 36 women with an index pregnancy complicated by gestational diabetes who received antepartum care at the same institution because of a subsequent pregnancy. Standard oral or intravenous glucose tolerance tests were used to document glucose intolerance or gestational diabetes. Twenty patients had gestational diabetes in the subsequent pregnancy, whereas one third of the patients tested did not demonstrate an abnormality of carbohydrate metabolism. The patients with consecutive pregnancies complicated by gestational diabetes were heavier and were delivered of heavier neonates than the patients who did not develop gestational diabetes again. Unlike the nondiabetic group, the patients who remained gestationally diabetic weighed significantly more in the subsequent pregnancy than in the index pregnancy. These results indicate that patients with gestational diabetes should be tested in subsequent pregnancies because of the impact of gestational diabetes on birth weight. However, these results also suggest that the glucose tolerance test may not be a reliable test for the detection of abnormal carbohydrate metabolism.     

Results of screening tests for gestational diabetes mellitus at Medical University in Warsaw

Our purpose was to determine the incidence of screening for gestational diabetes among the population of women delivering at I and II Departments of the First Faculty of Medical University in Warsaw. A retrospective review of 647 pregnancies was performed. The incidence of gestational diabetes mellitus screening was determined and the rate of occurrence of GDM analyzed. 310 (48%) pregnancies were screened for gestational diabetes mellitus with a 1-hour, 50 gm oral glucose challenge test. 49 (16.07%) of the screens had positive results at a plasma glucose level of > 139 mg/dl. Two-hour 75 gm oral glucose tolerance tests (according to the 1994 World Health Organization panel recommendations) were performed on screen-positive women, eleven of whom (22.45%) were diagnosed with gestational diabetes mellitus. Despite of positive oral 50 gm glucose test, (plasma glucose level 140-179 mg/l) 15 women (30%) haven't had the 75 gm oral glucose test. The incidence of GDM among analyzed population is 4% and when GDM screening is carried out, exceeds 7%. Early gestational glucose screening, if performed, may be beneficial in detecting gestational diabetes. Consideration should be given to fulfill it more frequently and for sure, repeat glucose testing in patients with positive one-hour screening tests.     

Postpartum diabetes screening: value of fructosamine determination]

After birth of an infant with a birthweight of 4000 g or more maternal glucose tolerance should be examined. We measured blood glucose values after a 100 g oral glucose challenge and compared them with serum fructosamine values of the same subjects. 40 women who had given birth to an infant with macrosomia (group I) were matched with 40 women who had delivered babies with normal birthweight (group II). Impaired glucose tolerance was found in 6 women (15%) of group I, and in one woman (2.5%) of group II. Fructosamine values were within the normal range in each of the seven women (1.74 + 0.2 mmol/l vs 1.73 + 0.2 mmol/l). Thus, fructosamine determination is not sensitive enough to detect impaired glucose tolerance in asymptomatic women post partum. It is not feasible to replace the oral glucose tolerance test in screening for gestational diabetes mellitus.     

Metabolic disorders in patients with recent gestational diabetes mellitus

AIM: To determine metabolic disorders in patients with recent gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) compared with controls. METHODS: Thirty-six patients with recent GDM and treated with a diabetic diet only, and 33 controls with normal pregnancies, were included in the study. An oral glucose tolerance test, with corresponding insulin and hormone levels, was performed; the homeostatic model assessment scores were calculated to estimate insulin resistance; prevalence of polycystic ovarian morphology on ultrasound scan was assessed; and results were recorded 10-15 months after delivery. RESULTS: Waist : hip ratio and fasting cholesterol and triglyceride levels were significantly higher in women with recent GDM; high-density lipoprotein cholesterol did not differ between groups. Fasting, 1-h and 2-h plasma glucose levels were significantly higher in the GDM group; no statistically significant difference was found between groups regarding fasting insulin levels, 1-h and 2-h insulin response, and homeostatic model assessment scores. Serum hormone levels did not differ between groups. The prevalence of polycystic ovarian morphology was greater in women with GDM. There was no difference in any metabolic parameter between women in the GDM group with polycystic ovaries and those with normal ovaries. CONCLUSIONS: We found a higher prevalence of polycystic ovarian morphology in women with GDM than in controls. Among women with recent GDM, higher waist : hip ratios and fasting plasma glucose and triglyceride levels may indicate metabolic syndrome. In women with recent GDM managed by diet only, insulin resistance may not be detected in the short term.     

Oral glucose tolerance test is a poor predictor of hyperglycemia during pregnancy

In an effort to assess the efficacy of the oral glucose tolerance test to detect patients with gestational diabetes mellitus who require therapeutic measures to maintain normoglycemia, we compared the results of an oral glucose tolerance test with those of a home glucose profile consisting of three postprandial glucose values in 250 pregnant women. The OGTT overestimated the occurrence of hyperglycemia by 28%, while the home glucose profile underestimated the occurrence of hyperglycemia by 5%. Pregnancy outcome was not significantly different between spontaneously normoglycemic women and those who required therapy. One cannot effectively identify the ten percent largest infants in the population by screening for gestational diabetes.