Gestational diabetes: predictors of subsequent disordered glucose metabolism

Gestational diabetes and risk of future diabetes in a multi-ethnic population

AIM

To investigate ethnic disparities in risk of gestational diabetes-mellitus (GDM) and future diabetes.

METHODS

A population-based retrospective cohort study of women who underwent a 100-g oral glucose-tolerance-test (oGTT) during pregnancy between 2007 and 2017 in Clalit-Health-Services of the Jerusalem district. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to compare the risk of GDM in Arab versus Jewish women. Further, Cox-regression analysis was used to establish the risk of future diabetes.

RESULTS

A total of 9875 women, 71 % of Jewish ethnicity and 29 % of Arab ethnicity were included. Arab women had a higher incidence of GDM compared to Jewish women (17.3 % vs. 10.6 %, p < 0.001), which persisted after adjusting for age, BMI, and metabolic profile (aOR 1.7; CI 1.48-2.0, P < 0.001). Additionally, Arab ethnicity was associated with an increased risk of future diabetes, even after adjusting for GDM status (aHR 5.9; 95 % CI 3.7-9.4, P < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Women of Arab ethnicity have a higher risk for both GDM and future diabetes, a risk that is beyond the initial increased risk associated with GDM. These findings highlight the need for increased focus on preventing diabetes in women of Arab ethnicity, especially those with a history of GDM.

Future diabetes risk can be predicted by the number of abnormal oral glucose tolerance test values during pregnancy

AIM

To quantify the future risk of type 2 diabetes (T2D) in women with gestational diabetes (GD) based on baseline metabolic characteristics and the number of abnormal values during a 3-hour 100-g oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We conducted a population-based retrospective cohort study of 10 023 pregnant women who underwent testing for GD in a large health maintenance organization in Israel using a 100-g OGTT. Glucose values were obtained at four time points, 0, 60, 120 and 180 minutes.

RESULTS

We identified 9939 women who met the study criteria. Median follow-up was 3.25 (interquartile range 1.5-5.1; maximum 10.1) years. Using women without GD as reference, women with GD were at an increased risk of future T2D (hazard ratio [HR] 5.33 [95% confidence interval {CI} 3.86-7.34]). This risk increased with a greater number of abnormal OGTT values, with the highest risk seen in women with four abnormal values (HR 16.67 [95% CI 7.94-35.01]). In a multivariate model, a higher number of abnormal values, Arab ethnicity, higher body mass index, triglycerides and prepregnancy glucose were significantly associated with increased risk. Future T2D risk was also affected by the type of OGTT abnormality; an abnormal fasting value had the greatest risk, whereas an abnormal 3-hour value had the lowest risk (HR 3.61 [95% CI 2.42-5.38] vs. 1.50 [95% CI 0.93-2.43], respectively).

CONCLUSIONS

GD is a heterogenous disease, with varying degrees of glucose intolerance and subsequent T2D risk. Targeting interventions to women at the highest risk may help to improve postpartum adherence and effective long-term follow-up strategies.

The CHANGED Score-A New Tool for the Prediction of Insulin Dependency in Gestational Diabetes

Gestational diabetes (GDM) is a frequent complication during pregnancy. We aimed to develop a score to predict future insulin dependency in gestational diabetes (GDM). Data from 1611 patients from Charité Berlins gestational diabetes clinic from 2015 to 2022 were utilized. A stepwise backwards regression, including patient characteristics obtained at the initial presentation, was performed. Predictors examined included age, fasting blood glucose level, blood glucose levels one and two hours after oral glucose tolerance test, pre-pregnancy BMI, number of previous pregnancies and births, and fetal sex. The ideal cutoff value between high and low risk for insulin dependency was assessed and the score was internally validated. There were 1249 (77.5%) women diagnosed with dietary GDM and 362 (22.5%) were diagnosed with insulin-dependent GDM. The CHarité AssessmeNt of GEstational Diabetes (CHANGED) Score achieved an area under the curve of 0.77 (95% confidence interval 0.75-0.80; 0.75 in internal validation). The optimal cutoff value was calculated at a score value of 9 (72% sensitivity, 69% specificity). We developed an easily applicable tool to accurately predict insulin dependency in gestational diabetes. The CHANGED Score is routinely available and can potentially improve maternal and fetal outcomes.

Genetics and Epigenetics: Implications for the Life Course of Gestational Diabetes

Gestational diabetes (GDM) is one of the most common complications of pregnancy, affecting as many as one in six pregnancies. It is associated with both short- and long-term adverse outcomes for the mother and fetus and has important implications for the life course of affected women. Advances in genetics and epigenetics have not only provided new insight into the pathophysiology of GDM but have also provided new approaches to identify women at high risk for progression to postpartum cardiometabolic disease. GDM and type 2 diabetes share similarities in their pathophysiology, suggesting that they also share similarities in their genetic architecture. Candidate gene and genome-wide association studies have identified susceptibility genes that are shared between GDM and type 2 diabetes. Despite these similarities, a much greater effect size for MTNR1B in GDM compared to type 2 diabetes and association of HKDC1, which encodes a hexokinase, with GDM but not type 2 diabetes suggest some differences in the genetic architecture of GDM. Genetic risk scores have shown some efficacy in identifying women with a history of GDM who will progress to type 2 diabetes. The association of epigenetic changes, including DNA methylation and circulating microRNAs, with GDM has also been examined. Targeted and epigenome-wide approaches have been used to identify DNA methylation in circulating blood cells collected during early, mid-, and late pregnancy that is associated with GDM. DNA methylation in early pregnancy had some ability to identify women who progressed to GDM, while DNA methylation in blood collected at 26-30 weeks gestation improved upon the ability of clinical factors alone to identify women at risk for progression to abnormal glucose tolerance post-partum. Finally, circulating microRNAs and long non-coding RNAs that are present in early or mid-pregnancy and associated with GDM have been identified. MicroRNAs have also proven efficacious in predicting both the development of GDM as well as its long-term cardiometabolic complications. Studies performed to date have demonstrated the potential for genetic and epigenetic technologies to impact clinical care, although much remains to be done.

Physical Activity during Preconception Impacts Some Maternal Outcomes-A Cross-Sectional Study on a Population of Polish Women

BACKGROUND

Physical activity is an element of a healthy lifestyle and is safe in most pregnancies. The aim of this study was to assess the impact of physical activity levels before and during pregnancy on pregnancy outcomes for both the mother and child.

METHODS

A cross-sectional survey was conducted on a population of Polish women. An anonymous questionnaire was distributed electronically via maternity and parental Facebook groups.

RESULTS

The final research group included 961 women. The analysis showed that physical activity 6 months before pregnancy was associated with a lower risk of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), but physical activity during pregnancy showed no such association. In all, 37.8% of women with low activity in the first trimester, in comparison to 29.4% of adequately active women, gained an excessive amount of weight during pregnancy (p = 0.0306). The results showed no association between activity level and pregnancy duration, type of delivery or newborn birth weight.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study indicates that physical activity during the preconception period is crucial to GDM occurrence.

Self-Efficacy and Readiness to Change Among Women with Recent Gestational Diabetes Engaging in a Web-Based Lifestyle Intervention: The Balance After Baby Intervention Trial

Few evidence-based programs exist to help women with a history of gestational diabetes reduce their risk of developing type 2 diabetes. In secondary analyses from a randomized clinical trial of a web-based lifestyle intervention program for postpartum women with recent gestational diabetes, we studied changes in self-efficacy for diet and physical activity and readiness to change health behaviors. Women were randomized at ∼6 weeks postpartum and completed questionnaires at 6 weeks and 6, 12, 18, and 24 months. Our study included 181 women (mean age 32.4 ± 5.2 years; 48% White, 19% Asian, 14% Black or African American, 17% other/mixed race; 34% Hispanic). In a linear mixed effects model, women in the intervention had significantly greater improvement in overall self-efficacy scores for physical activity compared with the control group at 24 months (difference in change scores between groups .35, 95% CI: .03 to .67, P = .03). The intervention group also demonstrated significantly greater improvement in self-efficacy scores for both physical activity subdomains, specifically “sticking to it” at 24 months and “making time” at 12 months. Participants in the intervention did not experience a significant difference in change in self-efficacy for diet or readiness to change compared with those in the control arm.

Adverse metabolic outcomes in the early and late postpartum after gestational diabetes are broader than glucose control

INTRODUCTION

Gestational diabetes mellitus is associated with an increased cardiovascular risk. To better target preventive measures, we performed an in-depth characterization of cardiometabolic risk factors in a cohort of women with gestational diabetes in the early (6-8 weeks) and late (1 year) postpartum.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

Prospective cohort of 622 women followed in a university gestational diabetes clinic between 2011 and 2017. 162 patients who attended the late postpartum visit were analyzed in a nested long-term cohort starting in 2015. Metabolic syndrome (MetS) was based on the International Diabetes Federation definition, and then having at least two additional criteria of the MetS (blood pressure, triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, plasma glucose above or below the International Diabetes Federation cut-offs).

RESULTS

Compared with prepregnancy, weight retention was 4.8±6.0 kg in the early postpartum, and the prevalence of obesity, pre-diabetes, MetS-body mass index (BMI) and MetS-waist circumference (WC) were 28.8%, 28.9%, 10.3% and 23.8%, respectively. Compared with the early postpartum, weight did not change and waist circumference decreased by 2.6±0.6 cm in the late postpartum. However, the prevalence of obesity, pre-diabetes, MetS-WC and MetS-BMI increased (relative increase: 11% for obesity, 82% for pre-diabetes, 50% for MetS-WC, 100% for MetS-BMI; all p≤0.001).Predictors for obesity were the use of glucose-lowering treatment during pregnancy and the prepregnancy BMI. Predictors for pre-diabetes were the early postpartum fasting glucose value and family history of diabetes. Finally, systolic blood pressure in pregnancy and in the early postpartum, the 2-hour post oral glucose tolerance test glycemia and the HDL-cholesterol predicted the development of MetS (all p<0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

The prevalence of metabolic complications increased in the late postpartum, mainly due to an increase in fasting glucose and obesity, although weight did not change. We identified predictors of late postpartum obesity, pre-diabetes and MetS that could lead to high-risk identification and targeted preventions.

"Maternal diabetes mellitus and its impact on the risk of delivering a child with congenital heart disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis"

AIM

Maternal pregestational diabetes mellitus (PGDM), type 1 or type 2, has been established as a potential risk factor for congenital heart disease (CHD). At the same time, the correlation between gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and increased risk of CHD has not been yet fully elucidated. The objective of this systematic review and meta-analysis (PROSPERO number: CRD42020182390) was to analyze the existing evidence on PGDM and to attempt to fill, to the best of our ability, the remaining knowledge gap in the association of GDM with CHD.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Two authors have independently searched the Pubmed/Medline, Scopus, Cochrane, Web of Science, and Theses Global databases with keywords and Boolean operators. The search yielded 9333 relevant articles, which were later screened for eligibility. Original peer-reviewed (case-control or cohort) studies were included if they were published in English between 1997 and 2020. Thirteen studies on mothers with PGDM and seven studies on mothers with GDM were finally included in our meta-analysis to investigate the association of maternal diabetes with the risk of delivering a child with CHD. The selected studies were all assessed for their methodological quality using the Newcastle-Ottawa scale. Associations with p < .05 were considered statistically significant.

RESULTS

Our meta-analysis (I² > 75%, total population: n = 12,461,586) of 79,476 women with PGDM and 160,893 with GDM produced an odds ratio of 3.48 (2.36-4.61) and 1.55 (1.48-1.61), respectively. Additionally, we did not find any noticeable difference in the risk for CHD among diabetic women living in the USA and Europe. Nevertheless, it still needs to be clarified, whether or not the gestational diabetic population includes undiagnosed women with preexisting diabetes, which might account for the increased risk of delivering a child with CHD in women classified as suffering from GDM.

CONCLUSION

While both GDM and PGDM seem to significantly increase the risk of CHD in comparison with the general population, PDGM appears to have a greater association with CHD, being correlated with a 3.5-fold increase in the risk of malformation. Preconceptional and gestational diabetes care are, therefore, essential to mitigate the adverse effect of hyperglycemia on fetal heart formation during pregnancy.

Oral Glucose Tolerance Test Results in Pregnancy Can Be Used to Individualize the Risk of Future Maternal Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus in Women With Gestational Diabetes Mellitus

OBJECTIVE

We aimed to quantify the risk of future maternal type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in women with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) based on the type and number of abnormal 75-g oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) values and the diagnostic criteria used for the diagnosis of GDM.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

We conducted a population-based retrospective cohort study of all nulliparous women with a live singleton birth who underwent testing for GDM using a 75-g OGTT in Ontario, Canada (2007-2017). We estimated the incidence rate (per 1,000 person-years), overall risk (expressed as adjusted hazard ratio [aHR]), and risk at 5 years after the index pregnancy of future maternal T2DM. Estimates were stratified by the type and number of abnormal OGTT values, as well as by the diagnostic criteria for GDM (Diabetes Canada [DC] vs. International Association of the Diabetes and Pregnancy Study Groups [IADPSG] criteria).

RESULTS

A total of 55,361 women met the study criteria. The median duration of follow-up was 4.4 (interquartile range 2.8-6.3; maximum 10.3) years. Using women without GDM as reference (incidence rate 2.18 per 1,000 person-years), women with GDM were at an increased risk of future T2DM; this risk was greater when using the DC compared with the IADPSG criteria (incidence rate 18.74 [95% CI 17.58-19.90] vs. 14.07 [95% CI 13.24-14.91] per 1,000 person-years, respectively). The risk of future maternal T2DM increased with the number of abnormal OGTT values and was highest for women with three abnormal values (incidence rate 49.93 per 1,000 person-years; aHR 24.57 [95% CI 21.26-28.39]). The risk of future T2DM was also affected by the type of OGTT abnormality: women with an abnormal fasting value had the greatest risk, whereas women with an abnormal 2-h value had the lowest risk (aHR 14.09 [95% CI 12.46-15.93] vs. 9.22 [95% CI 8.19-10.37], respectively). Similar findings to those described above were observed when the risk of T2DM at a fixed time point of 5 years after the index pregnancy was considered as the outcome of interest.

CONCLUSIONS

In women with GDM, individualized information regarding the future risk of T2DM can be provided based on the type and number of abnormal OGTT values, as well as the diagnostic criteria used for the diagnosis of GDM.

Association between the antepartum oral glucose tolerance test and the risk of future diabetes mellitus among women with gestational diabetes: A systematic review and meta-analysis

OBJECTIVES

The antepartum oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) has re-emerged as associated with risk of diabetes among women with gestational diabetes (GDM). This systematic review summarized evidence on associations between antepartum OGTT and risk of diabetes in GDM (PROSPERO CRD42018100316).

METHODS

MEDLINE, EMBASE, Web of Science, and CENTRAL were searched from January 1, 1982 to February 2020. Studies assessing associations between antepartum OGTT and risk of diabetes among women with GDM were included. Data on study characteristics, participants, OGTT values, and diabetes outcomes were extracted. Estimates on the association between antepartum OGTT and diabetes at follow-up were recorded. Pooled odds ratios for developing diabetes were calculated by study design.

FINDINGS AND CONCLUSIONS

Of 6423 citations, 17 studies were included. Both elevated fasting blood glucose (FBG; OR: 3.62 ([95% CI 1.30, 10.12], I² = 36%, p < 0.05)) and 2 h OGTT (OR: 3.96 [1.17, 13.40], I² = 87%, p < 0.05) were associated with diabetes. These associations were attenuated (FBG: OR: 1.91 ([95% CI 0.80, 24.54], I² = 83%, p = NS) and 1.58 ([95% CI 0.92, 2.74] I² = 83%, p = NS) for prospective and retrospective data, respectively; 2 h OGTT: ORa: 1.95 ([95% CI 0.43, 8.93], I² = 94%, p = NS)) after adjustments for common confounders. Further research is needed before clinical recommendations can be made.

Incidence Rate of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus after Gestational Diabetes Mellitus: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of 170,139 Women

OBJECTIVE

The reported incidence of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) after gestational diabetes (GDM) varies widely. The purpose of this meta-analysis was to define the incidence rate of T2DM among women with a history of GDM and to examine what might modulate the rate. Research Design and Methods. We searched PubMed and Embase for terms related to T2DM after GDM up to January 2019. Large cohort studies with sample size ≥300 and follow-up duration of at least one year were included. Data from selected studies were extracted, and meta-analysis was performed using the random-effects model. Subgroups analyses were based on the sample size of gestational diabetes, geographic region, maternal age, body-mass index, diagnostic criteria, and duration of follow-up.

RESULTS

Twenty-eight studies involving 170,139 women with GDM and 34,627 incident cases of T2DM were identified. The pooled incidence of T2DM after GDM was 26.20 (95% CI, 23.31 to 29.10) per 1000 person-years. Women from Asia and those with older age and higher body mass index seem to experience higher risk of developing T2DM. The incidence rate of T2DM was lowest when applying IADPSG (7.16 per 1000 person-years) to diagnose GDM. The risk of developing T2DM after GDM increased linearly with the duration of follow-up. The increments per year of follow-up were estimated at 9.6‰. The estimated risks for T2DM were 19.72% at 10 years, 29.36% at 20 years, 39.00% at 30 years, 48.64% at 40 years, and 58.27% at 50 years, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

The findings of very high incidence of T2DM after GDM add an important insight into the trajectory of the development of T2DM in the long-term postpartum periods, which could provide evidence for consultant and might motivate more women with GDM to screen for T2DM. This trial is registered with PROSPERO identifier CRD42019128980.

Should women with gestational diabetes be screened at delivery hospitalization for type 2 diabetes?

BACKGROUND

Less than one-half of women with gestational diabetes mellitus are screened for type 2 diabetes postpartum. Other approaches to postpartum screening need to be evaluated, including the role of screening during the delivery hospitalization.

OBJECTIVE

To assess the performance of an oral glucose tolerance test administered during the delivery hospitalization compared with the oral glucose tolerance test administered at a 4- to 12-week postpartum visit.

STUDY DESIGN

We conducted a combined analysis of patient-level data from 4 centers (6 clinical sites) assessing the utility of an immediate postpartum 75-g oral glucose tolerance test during the delivery hospitalization (PP1) for the diagnosis of type 2 diabetes compared with a routine 4- to 12-week postpartum oral glucose tolerance test (PP2). Eligible women underwent a 75-g oral glucose tolerance test at both PP1 and PP2. Sensitivity, specificity, and negative and positive predictive values of the PP1 test were estimated for diagnosis of type 2 diabetes, impaired fasting glucose, or impaired glucose tolerance.

RESULTS

In total, 319 women completed a PP1 screening, with 152 (47.6%) lost to follow-up for the PP2 oral glucose tolerance test. None of the women with a normal PP1 oral glucose tolerance test (n=73) later tested as having type 2 diabetes at PP2. Overall, 12.6% of subjects (n=21) had a change from normal to impaired fasting glucose/impaired glucose tolerance or a change from impaired fasting glucose/impaired glucose tolerance to type 2 diabetes. The PP1 oral glucose tolerance test had 50% sensitivity (11.8-88.2), 95.7% specificity (91.3-98.2%) with a 98.1% (94.5-99.6%) negative predictive value and a 30% (95% confidence interval, 6.7-65.3) positive predictive value for type 2 diabetes vs normal/impaired fasting glucose/impaired glucose tolerance result. The negative predictive value of having type 2 diabetes at PP2 compared with a normal oral glucose tolerance test (excluding impaired fasting glucose/impaired glucose tolerance) at PP1 was 100% (95% confidence interval, 93.5-100) with a specificity of 96.5% (95% confidence interval, 87.9-99.6).

CONCLUSION

A normal oral glucose tolerance test during the delivery hospitalization appears to exclude postpartum type 2 diabetes mellitus. However, the results of the immediate postpartum oral glucose tolerance test were mixed when including impaired fasting glucose or impaired glucose tolerance. As a majority of women do not return for postpartum diabetic screening, an oral glucose tolerance test during the delivery hospitalization may be of use in certain circumstances in which postpartum follow-up is challenging and resources could be focused on women with an abnormal screening immediately after the delivery hospitalization.

Oral Glucose Tolerance Testing Allows Better Prediction of Diabetes in Women with a History of Gestational Diabetes Mellitus

BACKGROUND

We aimed to identify the postpartum metabolic factors that were associated with the development of diabetes in women with a history of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). In addition, we examined the role of the oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) in the prediction of future diabetes.

METHODS

We conducted a prospective study of 179 subjects who previously had GDM but did not have diabetes at 2 months postpartum. The initial postpartum examination including a 75-g OGTT and the frequently sampled intravenous glucose tolerance test (FSIVGTT) was performed 12 months after delivery, and annual follow-up visits were made thereafter.

RESULTS

The insulinogenic index (IGI30) obtained from the OGTT was significantly correlated with the acute insulin response to glucose (AIRg) obtained from the FSIVGTT. The disposition indices obtained from the OGTT and FSIVGTT were also significantly correlated. Women who progressed to diabetes had a lower insulin secretory capacity including IGI30, AIRg, and disposition indices obtained from the FSIVGTT and OGTT compared with those who did not. However, the insulin sensitivity indices obtained from the OGTT and FSIVGTT did not differ between the two groups. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the 2-hour glucose and disposition index obtained from the FSIVGTT were significant postpartum metabolic risk factors for the development of diabetes.

CONCLUSION

We identified a crucial role of β-cell dysfunction in the development of diabetes in Korean women with previous GDM. The 2-hour glucose result from the OGTT is an independent predictor of future diabetes. Therefore, the OGTT is crucial for better prediction of future diabetes in Korean women with previous GDM.

Effect of Treatment of Mild Gestational Diabetes on Long-Term Maternal Outcomes

OBJECTIVE

The main purpose of this article is to evaluate whether identification and treatment of women with mild gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) during pregnancy affects subsequent maternal body mass index (BMI), anthropometry, metabolic syndrome, and risk of diabetes.

STUDY DESIGN

This is a follow-up study of women who participated in a randomized controlled treatment trial for mild GDM. Women were enrolled between 5 and 10 years after their index pregnancy. Participants underwent blood pressure, height, weight, and anthropometric measurements by trained nursing personnel using a standardized approach. A nurse-assisted questionnaire regarding screening and treatment of diabetes or hypercholesterolemia, diet, and physical activity was completed. Laboratory evaluation included fasting serum glucose, fasting insulin, oral glucose tolerance test, and a lipid panel. Subsequent diabetes, metabolic syndrome, obesity, and adiposity in those diagnosed with mild GDM and randomized to nutritional counseling and medical therapy (treated) were compared with those who underwent routine pregnancy management (untreated). Multivariable analyses were performed adjusting for race/ethnicity and years between randomization and follow-up visit.

RESULTS

Four-hundred fifty-seven women with mild GDM during the index pregnancy were included in this analysis (243 treated; 214 untreated) and evaluated at a median 7 years after their index pregnancy. Baseline and follow-up characteristics were similar between treatment groups. Frequency of diabetes (9.2 vs. 8.5%, p =0.80), metabolic syndrome (32.2 vs. 34.3%, p =0.63), as well as adjusted mean values of homeostasis model assessment for insulin resistance (2.5 vs. 2.3, p =0.11) and BMI (29.4 vs. 29.1 kg/m², p =0.67) were also not different.

CONCLUSION

Identification and treatment of women with mild GDM during pregnancy had no discernible impact on subsequent diabetes, metabolic syndrome, or obesity 7 years after delivery.

Most Women with Previous Gestational Diabetes Mellitus Have Impaired Glucose Metabolism after a Decade

Of 1324 women diagnosed with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) in Sweden, 25% reported >10 years after the delivery that they had developed diabetes mellitus. We assessed the long-term risk of all glucose metabolic abnormalities in a subgroup of these women. Women (n = 51) previously diagnosed with GDM by capillary blood glucose ≥9.0 mmol/L (≈plasma glucose ≥10.0 mmol/L) after a 2 h 75 g oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) were included. All underwent a clinical and biochemical evaluation, including a second 2 h 75 g OGTT. Individuals with known type 1 diabetes were excluded. At the follow-up, 12/51 (24%) reported previously diagnosed type 2 diabetes. Another four cases were diagnosed after the second OGTT, increasing the prevalence to 16/51 cases (31%). Impaired fasting plasma glucose (IFG) was diagnosed in 13/51 women and impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) in 10/51 women, leaving only 12 women (24%) with normal glucose tolerance. In addition, 2/51 women had high levels of glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD) antibodies; of these, one woman classified as type 2 diabetes was reclassified as type 1 diabetes, and the second GAD-positive woman was diagnosed with IGT. Of the women diagnosed with GDM by a 2 h 75 g OGTT, a large proportion had impaired glucose metabolism a decade later, including type 1 and type 2 diabetes.

Association of Gestational Diabetes With Maternal Disorders of Glucose Metabolism and Childhood Adiposity

IMPORTANCE

The sequelae of gestational diabetes (GD) by contemporary criteria that diagnose approximately twice as many women as previously used criteria are unclear.

OBJECTIVE

To examine associations of GD with maternal glucose metabolism and childhood adiposity 10 to 14 years' postpartum.

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS

The Hyperglycemia and Adverse Pregnancy Outcome (HAPO) Study established associations of glucose levels during pregnancy with perinatal outcomes and the follow-up study evaluated the long-term outcomes (4697 mothers and 4832 children; study visits occurred between February 13, 2013, and December 13, 2016).

EXPOSURES

Gestational diabetes was defined post hoc using criteria from the International Association of Diabetes and Pregnancy Study Groups consisting of 1 or more of the following 75-g oral glucose tolerance test results (fasting plasma glucose ≥92 mg/dL; 1-hour plasma glucose level ≥180 mg/dL; 2-hour plasma glucose level ≥153 mg/dL).

MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES

Primary maternal outcome: a disorder of glucose metabolism (composite of type 2 diabetes or prediabetes). Primary outcome for children: being overweight or obese; secondary outcomes: obesity, body fat percentage, waist circumference, and sum of skinfolds (>85th percentile for latter 3 outcomes).

RESULTS

The analytic cohort included 4697 mothers (mean [SD] age, 41.7 [5.7] years) and 4832 children (mean [SD] age, 11.4 [1.2] years; 51.0% male). The median duration of follow-up was 11.4 years. The criteria for GD were met by 14.3% (672/4697) of mothers overall and by 14.1% (683/4832) of mothers of participating children. Among mothers with GD, 52.2% (346/663) developed a disorder of glucose metabolism vs 20.1% (791/3946) of mothers without GD (odds ratio [OR], 3.44 [95% CI, 2.85 to 4.14]; risk difference [RD], 25.7% [95% CI, 21.7% to 29.7%]). Among children of mothers with GD, 39.5% (269/681) were overweight or obese and 19.1% (130/681) were obese vs 28.6% (1172/4094) and 9.9% (405/4094), respectively, for children of mothers without GD. Adjusted for maternal body mass index during pregnancy, the OR was 1.21 (95% CI, 1.00 to 1.46) for children who were overweight or obese and the RD was 3.7% (95% CI, -0.16% to 7.5%); the OR was 1.58 (95% CI, 1.24 to 2.01) for children who were obese and the RD was 5.0% (95% CI, 2.0% to 8.0%); the OR was 1.35 (95% CI, 1.08 to 1.68) for body fat percentage and the RD was 4.2% (95% CI, 0.9% to 7.4%); the OR was 1.34 (95% CI, 1.08 to 1.67) for waist circumference and the RD was 4.1% (95% CI, 0.8% to 7.3%); and the OR was 1.57 (95% CI, 1.27 to 1.95) for sum of skinfolds and the RD was 6.5% (95% CI, 3.1% to 9.9%).

CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE

Among women with GD identified by contemporary criteria compared with those without it, GD was significantly associated with a higher maternal risk for a disorder of glucose metabolism during long-term follow-up after pregnancy. Among children of mothers with GD vs those without it, the difference in childhood overweight or obesity defined by body mass index cutoffs was not statistically significant; however, additional measures of childhood adiposity may be relevant in interpreting the study findings.

Maternal educational level and the risk of persistent post-partum glucose metabolism disorders in women with gestational diabetes mellitus

AIMS

Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) occurs in 5-15% of pregnancies, and lower maternal educational attainment has been associated with higher risk of GDM. We aimed to determine if maternal education level is associated with persistent post-partum glucose metabolism disorders in women with GDM.

METHODS

Retrospective cohort study of women with GDM followed in 25 Portuguese health institutions between 2008 and 2012. Educational attainment was categorised into four levels. Prevalence of post-partum glucose metabolism disorders (type 2 diabetes mellitus, increased fasting plasma glucose or impaired glucose tolerance) was compared and adjusted odds ratios calculated controlling for confounders using logistic regression.

RESULTS

We included 4490 women diagnosed with GDM. Educational level ranged as follows: 6.8% (n = 307) were at level 1 (≤ 6th grade), 34.6% (n = 1554) at level 2 (6-9th grade), 30.4% (n = 1364) at level 3 (10-12th grade) and 28.2% (n = 1265) at level 4 (≥ university degree). At 6 weeks post-partum re-evaluation, 10.9% (n = 491) had persistent glucose metabolism disorders. Educational levels 1 and 2 had a higher probability of persistent post-partum glucose metabolism disorders when compared to level 4 (OR = 2.37 [1.69;3.32], p < 0.001 and OR = 1.39 [1.09;1.76], p = 0.008, for level 1 and 2, respectively), an association that persisted in multivariable logistic regression adjusting for confounders (level 1 OR = 2.25 [1.53;3.33], p < 0.001; level 2 OR = 1.43 [1.09;1.89], p = 0.01).

CONCLUSIONS

Persistent post-partum glucose metabolism disorders are frequent in women with GDM and associated with lower maternal educational level. Interventions aimed at this risk group may contribute towards a decrease in prevalence of post-partum glucose metabolism disorders.

Expression of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 in umbilical vascular of pregnant women with gestational diabetes mellitus and the clinical significance

The purpose of this study was to investigate the expression of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) in umbilical vascular of pregnant women with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and the clinical significance. A total of 103 pregnant women with GDM were selected in the First Hospital of Lanzhou University and the Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University from January 2016 to December 2016 as GDM group. At the same time, 106 normal pregnant women were selected as control group. i) General information of the two groups of pregnant women including age, gestational age, gravida, parity, BMI, systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure were compared; ii) the laboratory indicators of the two groups of pregnant women including fasting blood glucose, glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c), umbilical cord arterial pH, partial pressure of oxygen (pO₂) and carbon dioxide (pCO₂) in umbilical artery were compared; iii) expression of ICAM-1 in umbilical vascular was detected by immunohistochemistry; iv) expression levels of ICAM-1 in umbilical vascular of the two groups of patients were compared. i) There was no significant difference in the age, smoking, gestational age, gravida, parity, BMI, systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure between the two groups (p>0.05); ii) no significant differences in HbA1c, umbilical cord arterial pH, pO₂ and pCO₂ were found between the groups (p>0.05); iii) ICAM-1 was expressed in umbilical vessels of both groups of pregant women; iv) no significant differences in expression levels of ICAM-1 in umbilical artery and umbilical vein endothelial cells were found between the groups (p>0.05). Therefore, GDM patients with good blood glucose control have no umbilical cord endothelial cell damage.

Placental peptides metabolism and maternal factors as predictors of risk of gestational diabetes in pregnant women. A case-control study

Background

Gestational diabetes is a risk factor for perinatal complications; include shoulder dystocia, birth injuries such as bone fractures and nerve palsies. It is associated with later development of type 2 diabetes, the risk of macrosomia and other long-term health effects of infants born to diabetic mothers. The study assesses placental peptides and maternal factors as potential predictors of gestational diabetes among pregnant women.

Material and methods

A total of 200 pregnant women were recruited for the study, 150 pregnant women without pre gestational diabetes including 50 women with low risk factors of diabetes as controls and 50 other pregnant women with pregestational diabetes as control. Fasting blood glucose and the lipid profile were determined by enzymatic methods using Envoy^® 500 reagents (Vital Diagnostics, USA). Glycated haemoglobin was assessed using the Cation Exchange resin method. Leptin and the Human Placenta Lactogen were assayed using the Sandwich-ELISA technique. Beta chorionic gonadotrophin, insulin, progesterone and estradiol were determined using chemilumiscence imunoassay technique on MAGLUMI 600 analyzer. Anthropometry, including BMI and blood pressure were also measured.

Results

Fasting plasma glucose (FBG), insulin, insulin resistance, glycated haemoglobin and Human Placenta Lactogen(HPL)were significantly (p<0.0001) increased in the pregestational diabetic women whereas progesterone and estradiol were significantly decreased. In the second trimester however, there was no significant difference (p>0.05) in estradiol, insulin, insulin resistance and HPL between the pregnant women who developed gestational diabetes and those who did not. Leptin, progesterone and FBG were significantly increased in those who developed GDM. The risk of developing gestational diabetes increased with overweight (OR = 1.76, P = 0.370) and family history of diabetes (OR = 2.18, P = 0.282).

Conclusion

Leptin, progesterone, estradiol estimated in this study were increased in the gestational diabetes mellitus women and fairly predicted gestational diabetes in the non-diabetics pregnant women. Obesity, aging and family history of diabetes were strongly predictive of gestational diabetes.

Prevention of type 2 diabetes mellitus in women with previous gestational diabetes mellitus

Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), defined as any degree of glucose intolerance with onset or first recognition during pregnancy, is characterized by underlying maternal defects in the β-cell response to insulin during pregnancy. Women with a previous history of GDM have a greater than 7-fold higher risk of developing postpartum diabetes compared with women without GDM. Various risk factors for postpartum diabetes have been identified, including maternal age, glucose levels in pregnancy, family history of diabetes, pre-pregnancy and postpartum body mass index, dietary patterns, physical activity, and breastfeeding. Genetic studies revealed that GDM shares common genetic variants with type 2 diabetes. A number of lifestyle interventional trials that aimed to ameliorate modifiable risk factors, including diet, exercise, and breastfeeding, succeeded in reducing the incidence of postpartum diabetes, weight retention, and other obesity-related morbidities. The present review summarizes the findings of previous studies on the incidence and risk factors of postpartum diabetes and discusses recent lifestyle interventional trials that attempted to prevent postpartum diabetes.

Abnormal glucose tolerance post-gestational diabetes mellitus as defined by the International Association of Diabetes and Pregnancy Study Groups criteria

OBJECTIVE

An increase in gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) prevalence has been demonstrated across many countries with adoption of the International Association of the Diabetes and Pregnancy Study Groups (IADPSG) diagnostic criteria. Here, we determine the cumulative incidence of abnormal glucose tolerance among women with previous GDM, and identify clinical risk factors predicting this.

DESIGN

Two hundred and seventy women with previous IADPSG-defined GDM were prospectively followed up for 5years (mean 2.6) post-index pregnancy, and compared with 388 women with normal glucose tolerance (NGT) in pregnancy.

METHODS

Cumulative incidence of abnormal glucose tolerance (using American Diabetes Association criteria for impaired fasting glucose, impaired glucose tolerance and diabetes) was determined using the Kaplan-Meier method of survival analysis. Cox regression models were constructed to test for factors predicting abnormal glucose tolerance.

RESULTS

Twenty-six percent of women with previous GDM had abnormal glucose tolerance vs 4% with NGT, with the log-rank test demonstrating significantly different survival curves (P<0.001). Women meeting IADPSG, but not the World Health Organization (WHO) 1999 criteria, had a lower cumulative incidence than women meeting both sets of criteria, both in the early post-partum period (4.2% vs 21.7%, P<0.001) and at longer-term follow-up (13.7% vs 32.6%, P<0.001). Predictive factors were glucose levels on the pregnancy oral glucose tolerance test, family history of diabetes, gestational week at testing, and BMI at follow-up.

CONCLUSIONS

The proportion of women developing abnormal glucose tolerance remains high among those with IADPSG-defined GDM. This demonstrates the need for continued close follow-up, although the optimal frequency and method needs further study.

Glucose tolerance status of Asian Indian women with gestational diabetes at 6weeks to 1year postpartum (WINGS-7)

AIM

To determine postpartum glucose tolerance status among women with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) recruited under the Women In India with GDM Strategy (WINGS) Model of Care (MOC).

METHODS

Through the WINGS MOC programme, 212 women with GDM were followed till delivery between November 2013 and August 2015. All women were advised to return for a postpartum oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) 6-12weeks after delivery. A multivariate logistic regression (MLR) model was developed to identify the risk factors for postpartum dysglycemia which was defined as presence of diabetes (DM) or prediabetes.

RESULTS

203/212(95.8%) women completed their postpartum OGTT. Of the 161 women (79.3%) who came back for the test between 6 and 12weeks, 2(1.2%) developed DM, 5(3.1%), isolated IFG, 13(8.1%), isolated IGT and 5(3.1%) combined IFG/IGT [dysglycemia 25(15.5%)]. 136 women (84.5%) reverted to normal glucose tolerance (NGT). Of the 42 women who came back between 12weeks and a year, 5(11.9%) developed DM, 10(23.8%), isolated IFG and 1(2.4%) combined IFG/IGT [dysglycemia 16(38.1%)]. 26/42 women (61.9%) reverted to NGT. Thus overall dysglycemia occurred in 41/203 women (20.2%). MLR showed that BMI ⩾25kg/m(2) was significantly associated with postpartum dysglycemia (odds ratio: 4.47; 95% confidence interval: 1.8-11.2, p=0.001).

CONCLUSION

Among Asian Indian women with GDM, over 20% develop dysglycemia within one year postpartum, and BMI ⩾25kg/m(2) increased this risk four-fold. Early postpartum screening can identify high risk women and help plan strategies for prevention of type 2 diabetes in the future.

Development of a simple tool to predict the risk of postpartum diabetes in women with gestational diabetes mellitus

AIMS

Women with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) have an increased risk of diabetes postpartum. We developed a score to predict the long-term risk of postpartum diabetes using clinical and anamnestic variables recorded during or shortly after delivery.

METHODS

Data from 257 GDM women who were prospectively followed for diabetes outcome over 20 years of follow-up were used to develop and validate the risk score. Participants were divided into training and test sets. The risk score was calculated using Lasso Cox regression and divided into four risk categories, and its prediction performance was assessed in the test set.

RESULTS

Postpartum diabetes developed in 110 women. The computed training set risk score of 5 × body mass index in early pregnancy (per kg/m(2)) + 132 if GDM was treated with insulin (otherwise 0) + 44 if the woman had a family history of diabetes (otherwise 0) - 35 if the woman lactated (otherwise 0) had R (2) values of 0.23, 0.25, and 0.33 at 5, 10, and 15 years postpartum, respectively, and a C-Index of 0.75. Application of the risk score in the test set resulted in observed risk of postpartum diabetes at 5 years of 11 % for low risk scores ≤140, 29 % for scores 141-220, 64 % for scores 221-300, and 80 % for scores >300.

CONCLUSIONS

The derived risk score is easy to calculate, allows accurate prediction of GDM-related postpartum diabetes, and may thus be a useful prediction tool for clinicians and general practitioners.

Predictors of Abnormal Glucose Tolerance in the Early Postpartum Period in Patients with Gestational Diabetes

This study was designed to investigate the clinical predictors of abnormal glucose tolerance 5-7 weeks after delivery. Subjects were 155 women diagnosed with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) between October 2005 and September 2013 whose pregnancy and delivery were managed at our center. Subjects were divided into a normal glucose tolerance group (NGT; n = 113), or abnormal glucose tolerance group (AGT; n = 42) with borderline or overt diabetes mellitus, based on 75-g oral glucose tolerance test (75 gOGTT) results 5-7 weeks after delivery. We extracted profiles by which abnormal glucose tolerance levels 5-7 weeks after delivery were predicted using a classification and regression tree (CART) from parameters measured at the time of GDM diagnosis. Logistic regression analysis was used to determine prediction accuracy. Subjects with fasting plasma glucose (FPG) ≥92 mg/dL and immuno-reactive insulin level <100 μU/mL 60 min after load (IRI60min) at time of diagnosis showed a significantly higher risk of developing abnormal glucose tolerance 5-7 weeks after delivery than subjects with FPG <92 mg/dL (p < 0.0001). Subjects with FPG ≥92 mg/dL and IRI60min ≥ 100 μU/mL had the same risk as those with FPG of <92 mg/dL. Patients with gestational diabetes who met the criteria specified above at diagnosis were at a higher risk of developing diabetes mellitus in the future. By explaining this issue to patients, we expect to improve the rate of postpartum follow-up. This should facilitate early detection of diabetes, and help prevent associated complications.

Gestational diabetes: Glycaemic predictors for fetal macrosomia and maternal risk of future diabetes

AIMS

To investigate how glucose levels at diagnosis of gestational diabetes (GDM) are associated with infant birth weight and long-term risk of manifest diabetes mellitus in the mother.

METHODS

In a case control study GDM pregnancies (n=2085) were compared with non-GDM pregnancies matched for day of delivery and obstetric unit (n=3792). GDM was defined as capillary blood glucose (cB-glucose) ≥9.0mmol/l (plasma glucose ≥10.0mmol/l) after a 75g oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT). The GDM cohort were followed up 8.5-13.5yrs after initial diagnosis with a questionnaire, answered by 1324 GDM women (65%).

RESULTS

GDM women had higher mean infant birth-weight compared with controls (3682g vs. 3541g, P<0.001). In multiple linear regression analysis, birth weight was positively correlated to fasting cB-glucose at GDM diagnosis (P<0.001), increased week of gestation (P<0.001) and BMI before pregnancy (P<0.003), while 2h OGTT cB-glucose values ≥9.0mmol/l were not related. Infants born to mothers with fasting cB-glucose ≤4.5mmol/l had no increased mean birth-weight or macrosomia (≥4500g) compared to controls. In the follow up 334/1324 women (25%) of the GDM women had developed diabetes, 215 type 2 diabetes, 46 type 1 diabetes and 72 unclassified diabetes. In logistic regression fasting cB-glucose and 2h OGTT cB-glucose at diagnosis of GDM as well as BMI >25 and origin outside Europe were risk factors for manifest diabetes.

CONCLUSIONS

Fasting blood glucose at diagnosis of GDM gives important information besides 2h OGTT glucose about pregnancy outcome and future risk for maternal diabetes.

Maternal Body Weight and Gestational Diabetes Differentially Influence Placental and Pregnancy Outcomes

CONTEXT

Maternal obesity and gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) can both contribute to adverse neonatal outcomes. The extent to which this may be mediated by differences in placental metabolism and nutrient transport remains to be determined.

OBJECTIVE

Our objective was to examine whether raised maternal body mass index (BMI) and/or GDM contributed to a resetting of the expression of genes within the placenta that are involved in energy sensing, oxidative stress, inflammation, and metabolic pathways.

METHODS

Pregnant women from Spain were recruited as part of the "Study of Maternal Nutrition and Genetics on the Foetal Adiposity Programming" survey at the first antenatal visit (12-20 weeks of gestation) and stratified according to prepregnancy BMI and the incidence of GDM. At delivery, placenta and cord blood were sampled and newborn anthropometry measured.

RESULTS

Obese women with GDM had higher estimated fetal weight at 34 gestational weeks and a greater risk of preterm deliveries and cesarean section. Birth weight was unaffected by BMI or GDM; however, women who were obese with normal glucose tolerance had increased placental weight and higher plasma glucose and leptin at term. Gene expression for markers of placental energy sensing and oxidative stress, were primarily affected by maternal obesity as mTOR was reduced, whereas SIRT-1 and UCP2 were both upregulated. In placenta from obese women with GDM, gene expression for AMPK was also reduced, whereas the downstream regulator of mTOR, p70S6KB1 was raised.

CONCLUSIONS

Placental gene expression is sensitive to both maternal obesity and GDM which both impact on energy sensing and could modulate the effect of either raised maternal BMI or GDM on birth weight.

Abnormal glucose tolerance later in life in women affected by glucose intolerance during pregnancy

Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is a condition of abnormal maternal glucose tolerance that occurs, or is detected, for the first time during pregnancy. The new diagnostic strategies recommend a 75 g, 2-h glucose tolerance test for all women not already known to be diabetic, in the early 3rd trimester of pregnancy. GDM is diagnosed when one or more values is equal to or exceeds the thresholds suggested (i.e. fasting ≥ 5.1 mmol/l, 1-h ≥ 10.0 mmol/l and 2-h ≥ 8.5 mmol/l). This criteria will determine a significant increase of the prevalence of GDM, primarily because only one abnormal value (OAV), not two, is sufficient to make the diagnosis. We also suppose that the new cases of gestational diabetes diagnosed with the new criteria will have an increased risk for subsequent abnormal glucose tolerance later in life, as it was largely confirmed in the past for the patients with two or more abnormal values.

The risk factors and incidence of type 2 diabetes mellitus and metabolic syndrome in women with previous gestational diabetes

BACKGROUND

Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) affects nearly 5% of pregnancies. Significant proportion of the women with previous GDM develops type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in the next years, which indicates a higher risk in them than in the general population.

OBJECTIVES

We conducted this study to determine the risk factors and incidence of abnormal glucose level and metabolic syndrome (MetS) in women with a history of GDM in a long period after delivery in our region.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

We extracted the demographic characteristics of 110 women with GDM who had delivered during 2004 - 2010 in three main hospitals of Zanjan City, Iran. The patients were recalled to perform oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) and other necessary tests for MetS diagnosis. Anthropometric measurements were recorded of all the participants.

RESULTS

In this study, 110 women with a history of GDM were studied at one to six years since delivery. Among these women, 36 (32.7%) developed T2DM and 11 (10%) had impaired fasting glucose (IFG) or impaired glucose tolerance (IGT). Moreover, 22 women (20%) had developed MetS. among those with abnormal results in glycemic test, 93.6% had fasting blood sugar (FBS) ≥ 95 mg/dL (≥ 5.27 mmol/L)at the time of GDM diagnosis in the index pregnancy that was significantly higher than the normal glycemic test (NGT) group with 42.9% being affected (OR, 19.55; P < 0.0001). There was a significant difference between those with abnormal results and NGT group in interval between delivery and performing laboratory tests (27 ± 18.8 and 18.5 ± 17.7 months, respectively; OR, 1.02; P = 0.02). No insulin use during pregnancy was discovered as a protective factor in women with a history of GDM (OR, 0.35; P = 0.01). Those with abnormal results were significantly different from NGT group in the number of parities (2.61 ± 1.4 vs. 2.05 ± 1.1, respectively; OR, 1.4; P = 0.03). The most common component of MetS among women with a history of GDM was FBS > 100 mg/dL (> 5.55 mmol/L).

CONCLUSIONS

Regarding the high incidence of the T2DM and MetS among women with a history of GDM, they should be screened at a regular interval for diabetes and other cardiovascular risk factors.

Increasing prevalence of diabetes during pregnancy in South Carolina

BACKGROUND

The objective of our study was to examine the prevalence of diabetes during pregnancy at the population level in SC from January 1996 through December 2008.

METHODS

The study included 387,720 non-Hispanic white (NHW), 232,278 non-Hispanic black (NHB), and 43,454 Hispanic live singleton births. Maternal inpatient hospital discharge codes from delivery (91.59%) and prenatal information (i.e., Medicaid [42.91%] and SC State Health Plan [SHP] [5.98%]) were linked to birth certificate data. Diabetes during pregnancy included gestational and preexisting, defined by prenatal and maternal inpatient International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD-9-CM) diagnostic codes (i.e., 64801-64802, 64881-64882, or 25000-25092) or report on the birth certificate.

RESULTS

Diabetes prevalence from any source increased from 5.02% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 4.82-5.22) in 1996 to 8.37% (95% CI: 8.15-8.60) in 2008. Diabetes prevalence, standardized for maternal age and race/ethnicity from 1996 through 2008, increased from 3.38% (95% CI: 3.29-3.47) to 5.81% (95% CI: 5.71-5.91) using birth certificate data, from 3.99% (95% CI: 3.89-4.10) to 6.69% (95% CI: 6.58-6.80) using hospital discharge data, and from 4.74% (95% CI: 4.52-4.96) to 8.82% (95% CI: 8.61-9.03) using Medicaid data. Comparing birth certificate to hospital discharge, Medicaid, and SHP data, Cohen's kappa in 2008 was 0.73 (95% CI: 0.72-0.75), 0.64 (95% CI: 0.62-0.66), and 0.59 (95% CI: 0.54-0.65), respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

An increasing prevalence of diabetes during pregnancy is reported, as well as substantial lack of agreement in reporting of diabetes prevalence across administrative databases. Prevalence of reported diabetes during pregnancy is impacted by screening, diagnostic, and reporting practices across different data sources, as well as by actual changes in prevalence over time.

The association of maternal adult weight trajectory with preeclampsia and gestational diabetes mellitus

BACKGROUND

Preeclampsia (PE) and gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) adversely affect pregnancy outcomes and the subsequent health of both mother and infant. It is known that elevated pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI) is associated with increased risk of these obstetrical complications. However, little is known about the role of adult weight patterns prior to pregnancy.

METHODS

Self-reported weight at ages prior to the current pregnancy was recorded in a prospective cohort study of 3567 pregnant women, allowing assessment of longitudinal pre-pregnancy weight trajectories and their association with subsequent PE and GDM in the study pregnancy.

RESULTS

Women who would subsequently experience PE or GDM in the study pregnancy experienced on average almost double the rate of adult weight gain than other women [PE: additional 0.30 kg/year, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.09, 0.51 and GDM: additional 0.34 kg/year, 95% CI 0.21, 0.48]. Women with mean adult annual weight gain above the 90th percentile (1.4 kg/year) had elevated risk of subsequent PE and GDM independent of their BMI at age 18 and of their obesity status at the time of the study pregnancy. Finite mixture trajectory modelling identified four monotonely ordered, increasing mean weight trajectories. Relative to the second lowest (most common) weight trajectory, women in the highest trajectory were at greater risk of PE [odds ratio (OR) 5.0, 95% CI 2.9, 8.8] and GDM (OR 2.8, 95% CI 1.7, 4.5).

CONCLUSIONS

These results indicate that higher adult weight gain trajectories prior to pregnancy may play a role in predisposing women to PE or GDM.

Predicting the metabolic condition after gestational diabetes mellitus from oral glucose tolerance test curves shape

The objective of this feasibility study is to predict the metabolic condition in women with a history of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) from the shape of oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) data. The rationale for this approach is that the evolution to a metabolic condition could be traceable in the shape of OGTT curves. 3-h OGTT data of 136 women with follow up, for a total of 401 OGTTs were analyzed. Subjects were classified as having normal (NGT) or non-normal glucose tolerance (NON-NGT), according to the American Diabetes Association criteria. The measured glucose, insulin, C-peptide data and combination of them were used to build up NGT and NON-NGT reference curves. Similarity between reference and individual OGTT-based curves was calculated using the Kullback-Leibler divergence. Our findings suggest that the shape of OGTT curves (1) contains information on the evolution to disease and (2) could be a reliable indicator to predict with high sensitivity (75%) and high specificity (69%) the metabolic condition of women with a history of GDM. In the future, the proposed shape-based prediction could be easily translated to the clinical practice, because it does not require the intervention of an operator specifically trained, thus facilitating its application in a clinical setting and ultimately empowering risk estimation, by improving/complementing the information which is currently adopted for risk stratification after pregnancy with GDM.

Gestational diabetes and future risk of diabetes

BACKGROUND

In this study of women with gestational diabetes we attempted to (a) Determine the magnitude of the long term risk of progression to diabetes and (b) Identify factors that predict the development of diabetes.

METHODS

All women diagnosed with gestational diabetes (GDM) at Worcestershire Royal Hospital, UK from 1995 to 2003 were included in this observational cohort study and followed up till 2009. Diabetes was diagnosed if fasting glucose ≥ 7.0 mmol/L, random/two-hour glucose following 75 gram oral glucose test (OGTT) ≥ 11.1 mmol/L or HbA1c ≥ 7.0%.

RESULTS

The risk of developing diabetes was 6.9% at five years and 21.1% at ten years following the initial diagnosis of GDM. Fasting and post-prandial glucose levels in the oral glucose tolerance test during pregnancy were associated with future risk of diabetes. There was no association with age, gestational age at diagnosis of GDM, numbers of previous and subsequent pregnancies.

CONCLUSION

Risk of progression to diabetes in a UK based cohort of women with GDM is estimated. Women with fasting antenatal glucose ≥ 7.0 mmol/L and/or an antenatal two-hour glucose ≥ 11.1 mmol/L are at higher risk and need close follow up.

Gestational diabetes mellitus

BACKGROUND

Gestational diabetes mellitus, defined as diabetes diagnosed during pregnancy that is not clearly overt diabetes, is becoming more common as the epidemic of obesity and type 2 diabetes continues. Newly proposed diagnostic criteria will, if adopted universally, further increase the prevalence of this condition. Much controversy surrounds the diagnosis and management of gestational diabetes.

CONTENT

This review provides information regarding various approaches to the diagnosis of gestational diabetes and the recommendations of a number of professional organizations. The implications of gestational diabetes for both the mother and the offspring are described. Approaches to self-monitoring of blood glucose concentrations and treatment with diet, oral medications, and insulin injections are covered. Management of glucose metabolism during labor and the postpartum period are discussed, and an approach to determining the timing of delivery and the mode of delivery is outlined.

SUMMARY

This review provides an overview of current controversies as well as current recommendations for gestational diabetes care.

Progression to type 2 diabetes in women with former gestational diabetes: time trajectories of metabolic parameters

Aim of this study was analyzing the time trajectories of the metabolic parameters in European women with former gestational diabetes (fGDM), and determining predictors of type 2 diabetes onset. A group of seventy-six fGDM women were studied at the outpatient department of the University Clinic of Vienna. They were evaluated yearly with a 3 h-oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) up to 7-years from delivery. At baseline, women also underwent an intravenous glucose tolerance test (IVGTT). Insulin sensitivity and beta-cell function were assessed by both OGTT and IVGTT. Women were divided into progressors (PROG) to diabetes (n = 19) and non-progressors (n = 57). Time trajectories of glycemia and other parameters were analyzed after synchronization to time of diabetes onset or last OGTT. Then, Cox proportional hazard regression analysis was performed to assess the predictive power of studied variables for diabetes onset. We found that, in PROG, time trajectories of glycemia were flat until diabetes onset, when they showed a marked increase (P<0.0001). Insulin sensitivity showed similar marked decrease (P<0.0001) at diabetes onset, together with a tendency to continuous slow decline in the previous years. At contrast, beta-cell function showed only continuous slow decline. Major predictors of diabetes onset were glycemic levels, BMI, insulin resistance, and condition of impaired glucose tolerance. In conclusion, in fGDM, marked deterioration of insulin sensitivity is associated with diabetes onset. Prevention strategies aimed at opposing to the insulin sensitivity derangement may be particularly beneficial.

Risk factors of abnormal carbohydrate metabolism after pregnancy complicated by gestational diabetes mellitus

OBJECTIVE

In gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) abnormal glucose metabolism normalizes soon after delivery. However, the history of GDM predisposes to carbohydrate intolerance in the future. The aim of the study was to explore risk factors and to evaluate risk of glucose intolerance and diabetes mellitus in women with a history of GDM.

METHODS

155 patients entered this case-control study. Participants fulfilled the inclusion criteria: a history of GDM, perinatal care in the study center. Medical and family history and laboratory findings were analyzed. Oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) was performed.

RESULTS

18.1% of patients presented impaired fasting glucose during the study, 20% presented impaired glucose tolerance and 23.2% presented diabetes mellitus. Gestational age at diagnosis of GDM, the results of OGTT during pregnancy, serum HbA1c concentration at 2nd and 3rd trimester, serum fructosamine concentration, symptoms of diabetic fetopathy in the neonate, the need for insulin therapy after delivery, maternal age at diagnosis of GDM and maternal body mass index before pregnancy were the significant risk factors of impaired glucose tolerance or diabetes in the future.

CONCLUSION

GDM increases the risk of diabetes mellitus. Several risk factors of impaired carbohydrate metabolism can be distinguished in patients with a history of GDM.

Antepartum obstetrical complications associated with obesity

Obesity is a major risk factor for many obstetrical complications, including pre-eclampsia, gestational diabetes, indicated preterm birth, macrosomia, and stillbirth. Clinicians should be aware of the unique obstetrical management considerations related to obesity, including recommendations for alterations in prenatal care. In addition, obese gravidas commonly have underlying medical conditions that can impact pregnancy and must be appreciated to optimize care. Obese women should be educated about these risks, ideally before pregnancy. Awareness of the complications that can arise for these women and potential changes in management offer opportunities to improve both prenatal and lifelong health.

Effect of dietary and lifestyle factors on the risk of gestational diabetes: review of epidemiologic evidence

Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), defined as glucose intolerance with onset or first recognition in pregnancy, is a common pregnancy complication and a growing health concern. GDM has been related to significant short-term and long-term adverse health outcomes for both mothers and offspring. Importantly, this number is increasing with the increasing burden of obesity among women of reproductive age. Collectively, these data highlight the significance of understanding risk factors, in particular modifiable factors, for GDM and of preventing GDM among high-risk populations. Research in the past decade has identified a few diet and lifestyle factors that are associated with GDM risk. This review provides an overview of emerging diet and lifestyle factors that may contribute to the prevention of GDM. It also discusses major methodologic concerns about the available epidemiologic studies of GDM risk factors.

Identification of proteomic biomarkers in maternal plasma in the early second trimester that predict the subsequent development of gestational diabetes

INTRODUCTION

This study is designed to identify proteomic biomarkers that predict the subsequent development of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM).

METHODS

Maternal blood was obtained prospectively from healthy pregnant women in the early second trimester (16-20 weeks). Twelve women subsequently diagnosed with GDM at 24 to 28 weeks were selected as cases; an equal number of normoglycemic women as controls. Proteomic analysis of the previously stored plasma was performed by surface-enhanced laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight (SELDI-TOF) mass spectrometry.

RESULTS

Three peaks (9122 Da, 9412 Da, and 9701 Da) that were increased in cases were characterized as isoforms of apolipoprotein CIII. Another discriminatory peak (17 105 Da) that was decreased in cases was matched to apolipoprotein AII. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) confirmed that women who subsequently developed GDM had significantly higher levels of apolipoprotein CIII than controls did. Levels of apolipoprotein AII failed to reach statistical significance.

CONCLUSION

Our data suggest that there already exist biomarkers in the maternal circulation at 16 to 20 weeks in women who subsequently develop GDM.

Small artery function 2 years postpartum in women with altered glycaemic distributions in their preceding pregnancy

GDM (gestational diabetes mellitus) is associated with later adverse cardiovascular risk. The present study examined the relationship between glycaemia during pregnancy and small artery function and structures approx. 2 years postpartum. Women were originally enrolled in the HAPO (Hyperglycaemia and Adverse Pregnancy Outcome) study from which they were classified by their glycaemic distribution during pregnancy as controls (in the lower half of the distribution), UQ (upper quartile; in the UQ of the glycaemic distribution) or having had overt GDM. Subcutaneous arteries from a gluteal fat biopsy taken at follow-up 2 years later were examined using wire myography. Small artery structure, stiffness and vasoconstrictor responses were similar across groups. Maximal endothelium-dependent dilation in response to carbachol was impaired in arteries from both GDM (43.3%, n=8 and P=0.01) and UQ (51.7%, n=13 and P=0.04) women despite generally 'normal' current glycaemia (controls, 72.7% and n=8). Inhibition of NOS (nitric oxide synthase) significantly reduced maximum endothelium-dependent dilation in controls but had no effect on arteries from UQ and GDM women, suggesting impaired NOS activity in these groups. Endothelium-independent dilation was unaffected in arteries from previous GDM and UQ women when compared with the control group. Multiple regression analysis suggested that BMI (body mass index) at biopsy was the most potent factor independently associated with small artery function, with no effect of current glycaemia. Overweight women with either GDM or marginally raised glycaemia during pregnancy (our UQ group) had normal vascular structure and stiffness, but clearly detectable progressively impaired endothelium-dependent function at 2 years follow-up. These results suggest that vascular pathology, which may still be reversible, is detectable very early in women at risk of decline into Type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Aortic isthmus blood flow in fetuses of diabetic mothers

OBJECTIVE

To test the hypothesis that the aortic isthmus flow index (IFI) is lower in fetuses of diabetic mothers than in fetuses of nondiabetic mothers.

STUDY DESIGN

We performed a cross-sectional observational study to assess the IFI in fetuses, with (n = 13) and without (n = 37) myocardial hypertrophy, of mothers with diabetes mellitus and in fetuses of nondiabetic mothers (n = 23). Analysis of variance and Tukey test were used to assess differences among the groups.

RESULTS

There were no differences in maternal or gestational age among the groups. In fetuses of diabetic mothers, the mean IFI in fetuses with myocardial hypertrophy was 1.19 ± 0.06, and in fetuses without it was 1.18 ± 0.09. The mean IFI in fetuses of nondiabetic mothers was 1.32 ± 0.07 (P < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

The IFI in fetuses of diabetic mothers is lower than in fetuses of nondiabetic mothers, possibly as a result of a decreased left ventricular compliance.

Gestational diabetes in Korea: incidence and risk factors of diabetes in women with previous gestational diabetes

Korean women with a history of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) have a 3.5 times greater risk of developing postpartum diabetes than the general population. The incidence of type 2 diabetes mellitus in early postpartum is reported as 10-15% in Korean women. A prospective follow-up study on Korean women with GDM showed that approximately 40% of women with previous GDM were expected to develop diabetes within 5 years postpartum. Independent risk factors for the development of diabetes in Korean women with previous GDM are pre-pregnancy body weight, gestational age at diagnosis, antepartum hyperglycemia on oral glucose tolerance test, low insulin response to oral glucose load, and family history of diabetes. Women with postpartum diabetes have greater body mass indexes, body weight, and waist circumferences than women with normal glucose tolerance. Multiple logistic regression analysis has revealed that waist circumference is the strongest obesity index along with systolic blood pressure and that triglyceride levels are a major independent risk factor for developing diabetes. These results in Korean women with previous GDM underline the importance of postpartum testing in Korean women diagnosed with GDM, and demonstrate that impaired B-cell function, obesity, and especially visceral obesity, are associated with the development of diabetes.

Retinol-binding protein 4: a novel adipokine implicated in the genesis of LGA in the absence of gestational diabetes mellitus

OBJECTIVE

Adipokines (cytokines produced by adipose tissue) play a major role in the control of body weight and energy distribution. Retinol-binding protein 4 (RBP4), only recently recognized as an adipokine, has been proposed to modulate systemic insulin sensitivity. The goal of this study was to determine whether there is an association between maternal plasma RBP4 concentration and the birth of a large-for-gestational-age (LGA) newborn in women with and without gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM).

STUDY DESIGN

This cross-sectional study included pregnant women at term in the following groups: 1) normal pregnancy with an appropriate-for-gestational-age (AGA) neonate (n=64); 2) normal pregnancy with an LGA neonate (n=44); 3) GDM with an AGA neonate (n=55); and 4) GDM with an LGA neonate (n=42). Maternal plasma RBP4 concentration was determined by ELISA. Parametric and non-parametric statistics were used for analyses.

RESULTS

1) Patients with GDM, either with AGA or LGA neonates, had a higher median plasma concentration of RBP4 than normal pregnant women who delivered an AGA neonate (P=0.01 and P=0.008, respectively); 2) mothers without GDM but with LGA neonates had a higher median plasma concentration of RBP4 than those with normal pregnancy and AGA newborns (P=0.001); 3) these findings remained significant after adjusting for maternal age, body mass index and gestational age at blood sampling.

CONCLUSION

GDM is characterized by alterations in maternal circulating RBP4 concentrations akin to those of Type 2 diabetes mellitus. RBP4 concentrations in maternal plasma may play a role in accelerated fetal growth in the absence of overt carbohydrate intolerance.

Antenatal oral glucose-tolerance test values and pregnancy outcomes

Objective

The aim of the present study was to explore the impact of individual blood glucose values (n = 4; i.e. fasting and 1, 2 and 3 h following oral glucose administration) obtained during antenatal oral glucose-tolerance testing, together with two different sets of criteria used for diagnosis of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) — Carpenter and Coustan Criteria (CCC) and National Diabetes Data Group (NDDG) criteria — in predicting pregnancy outcomes and maternal insulin need.

Setting

Al Ain Hospital, United Arab Emirates.

Method

This observational uncontrolled cohort study gained its study subjects from a randomised, controlled, longitudinal, prospective clinical trial performed at Al Ain Hospital, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates. The eligible population was made up of all women (n = 720) who participated in an early screening programme for GDM. Those who had a positive oral glucose-tolerance test (OGTT) based on CCC were included in the study (n = 165). All recruited women with GDM were followed from time of recruitment to 6months postpartum. The sources of information used were maternal and neonatal medical records and laboratory findings for women both antenatally and postnatally.

Results

The maternal and neonatal outcomes indicated that the number of abnormally elevated antenatal OGTT values obtained during the diagnosis of GDM was significantly correlated with development of a number of pregnancy complications. Data analysis also indicated that the number of abnormal diagnostic antenatal OGTT values using CCC was significantly correlated with development of postpartum diabetes mellitus (P = 0.044) within 6months of delivery. The number of abnormal OGTT values significantly contributed to insulin need during the index pregnancy (P &lt; 0.05). The CCC approach was more sensitive than the NDDG methodology for predicting the onset of GDM and a number of the associated complications.

Conclusions

The study highlighted the importance of abnormal values for antenatal OGTT in identifying the need for insulin management in women with GDM.

A single abnormal value of the glucose tolerance test is related to increased adverse perinatal outcome

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate which pregnant women with a single abnormal value in the oral glucose tolerance test are at increased risk for adverse perinatal outcome.

METHODS

In this retrospective cohort study, we have evaluated the course of pregnancy in 152 consecutive women with only one abnormal value (OAV), and 624 with a 100 g - glucose tolerance test totally within the range values.

RESULTS

The prevalence of caesarean delivery, hypertensive disorders and macrosomia was higher in the study group when compared with the control group, whereas no difference was noted concerning gestational age at delivery, Apgar score at 1 and 5 min and neonatal hypoglycemia. Moreover, in the study group hypertensive disorders were more frequent in the subgroup with the elevated value at 1 h after the glucose load (25%), whereas macrosomia is more frequent when it is the fasting value to be elevated (29.7%).

CONCLUSIONS

Our results show that the implications of a single elevated glucose tolerance test value vary in relation to the timing of the abnormal value. In fact, OAV fasting or 1-h after load has a higher prevalence for an adverse obstetric outcome, whereas a 2 or 3-h value does not present significant differences when compared with the control group.

Late cardiovascular consequences of gestational diabetes mellitus

Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), defined as carbohydrate intolerance of any degree first recognized during pregnancy, complicates approximately 4% of all pregnancies in the United States. Several factors can increase one's risk of developing GDM, including obesity, family history of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), and race/ethnicity. Conversely, a history of GDM can increase the risk of developing not only T2DM but also cardiovascular disease (CVD) independent of a diagnosis of T2DM. Several investigations have explored GDM relationships with CVD risk factors, CVD surrogate markers, and clinically evident CVD. These studies have included evaluations of biochemical parameters, such as inflammatory and endothelial biomarkers; endothelial dysfunction, such as that seen in impaired brachial artery flow-mediated vasodilation; and vascular dysfunction, manifest as cardiac dysfunction or in diseases such as hypertension. This article will review these studies and examine factors considered to be responsible for promoting CVD in women with a history of GDM, such as T2DM and metabolic syndrome and its components. In addition, studies evidencing CVD in women with a history of GDM will be explored.

Antenatal factors predicting subsequent need for insulin treatment in women with gestational diabetes

OBJECTIVE

To identify characteristics indicative of subsequent requirement of insulin in patients with gestational diabetes (GDM).

METHODS

Identified from a database were patients with GDM not receiving insulin or oral hypoglycemic agents at enrollment for outpatient education and surveillance. Maternal characteristics were compared between patients achieving glycemic control with diet and those requiring insulin. Cox proportional hazards regression was used to assess multiple effects of significant univariate factors.

RESULTS

Data from 2365 patients were analyzed. Patients requiring insulin were more likely to be multiparous, obese, have a history of GDM, be diagnosed at <28 weeks of gestation, and have a fasting blood glucose of >95 mg/dL, a glucose tolerance test 3-hour blood glucose of >140 mg/dL, and a glycosylated hemoglobin (A1c) of >or=6% at diagnosis of GDM.

CONCLUSIONS

Laboratory values at diagnosis of GDM were the strongest indicators of subsequent need for insulin treatment. Patients with fasting blood glucose of >95 mg/dL and A1c values >or=6% at diagnosis of GDM should receive close surveillance of daily blood glucose.

Visfatin in human pregnancy: maternal gestational diabetes vis-à-vis neonatal birthweight

OBJECTIVE

Adipose tissue dysfunction, characterized by dysregulation of adipokines production and/or secretion, has been implicated in the pathophysiology of type-2 diabetes mellitus, a metabolic complication closely related to gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). Recently, an association between circulating maternal visfatin, a novel adipokine with metabolic and immunoregulatory properties, and impaired glucose metabolism as well as with altered fetal growth, has been proposed. The aims of this study were to determine whether there is an association between maternal plasma visfatin concentration, GDM, and a large-for-gestational-age (LGA) newborn.

STUDY DESIGN

This cross-sectional study, included pregnant women at term in the following groups: 1) normal pregnancy and an appropriate-for-gestational-age (AGA) neonate (n=54); 2) normal pregnancy and an LGA newborn (n=47); 3) GDM and an AGA newborn (n=56); 4) GDM and an LGA newborn (n=45). The study population was further stratified by first trimester BMI (<25 vs. > or =25 kg/m(2)). Maternal plasma visfatin concentration was determined by ELISA. Parametric and non-parametric statistics were used for analysis.

RESULTS

1) Among women who delivered an AGA neonate, the median maternal plasma concentration of visfatin was higher in patients with GDM than in those with a normal pregnancy; 2) Among women with a normal pregnancy, those who delivered an LGA neonate had a higher median maternal plasma visfatin concentration than those who delivered an AGA neonate; 3) among patients with normal BMI, there were no significant differences in the median maternal plasma visfatin concentration between the four study groups; and 4) maternal GDM, as well as delivery of an LGA neonate were independently associated with a higher maternal plasma visfatin concentrations.

CONCLUSION

The linkage between increased maternal circulating visfatin and the presence of GDM or delivery of an LGA neonate supports the hypothesis that perturbation of adipokines homeostasis may play a role in the pathophysiology of GDM or excess fetal growth.

Serum osteoprotegerin is associated with carotid intima media thickness in women with previous gestational diabetes

Circulating levels of osteoprotegerin (OPG) have been shown to be increased in patients with cardiovascular disorders and diabetes. The aim of this study was to determine serum OPG levels in women with previous gestational diabetes (GDM), and to investigate the relationship between OPG and carotid intima media thickness (IMT) and circulating cardiovascular risk factors. Serum OPG was measured in 46 women with previous GDM and 30 age-matched healthy controls. Carotid IMT was evaluated. Serum lipid, insulin and hsCRP levels, plasma fibrinogen, vWF and PAI-1 levels were measured. Serum OPG levels tended to be increased in women with previous GDM (p=0.058). Carotid IMT was increased in the study group. Women with previous GDM had elevated levels of hsCRP and PAI-1. OPG levels were positively correlated with age, fasting and post-load glucose levels, hsCRP, and carotid IMT. Multiple regression analysis showed that serum OPG was a statistically significant predictor for elevated carotid IMT. Our results revealed that OPG levels tended to be elevated in women with previous GDM. Significant association of OPG with carotid IMT suggested that OPG might play a role in the pathogenesis of endothelial dysfunction in women with previous GDM.