Detection and treatment of gestational diabetes

The effect of gestational diabetes mellitus on carotid artery intima-media thickness in and after pregnancy: a systematic review and meta-analysis

AIMS

The association between gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and common carotid artery (CCA) intima-media thickness (IMT) is still controversial. This systematic review and meta-analysis was performed to assess the correlation between GDM and CCA-IMT in and after pregnancy.

METHODS

PubMed and EMBASE databases were systematically reviewed on April 2023. Studies measuring CCA-IMT in both pregnant women with GDM and women with previous history of GDM (pGDM) vs. healthy controls were included. The subtotal and overall standardized mean differences (SMDs) of CCA-IMT were calculated using the random-effect model.

RESULTS

Nineteen studies with a total of 302 GDM and 861 pGDM women were analyzed. The average value of CCA-IMT measured in GDM/pGDM (0.59 ± 0.12 mm) was slightly increased in comparison to the accepted reference limits of IMT according to age classes. Substantial heterogeneity was detected for the studies involving both GDM and pGDM women, with an overall statistic I2 of 86.0% (p < 0.001). Large SMDs were obtained for the studies conducted on both GDM and pGDM women, with an overall SMD of 0.89 (95%CI 0.63-1.15, p < 0.001). Egger's test for a regression intercept gave a p-value of 0.37, indicating no publication bias. On meta-regression analysis, all potential confounders (number of patients, age at pregnancy, body mass index, measuring time, follow-up duration and GDM criteria) were not significantly associated with effect modification.

CONCLUSIONS

GDM in and after pregnancy is independently associated with subclinical atherosclerosis. The association between GDM and carotid remodeling is potentially mediated by the longstanding underlying risk.

Exercise and the Prevention of Gestational Diabetes Mellitus

Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is associated with pregnancy complications and fetal complications, as well as long-term health consequences for women and their offspring. Pregnancy is a pseudodiabetogenic state of increasing insulin resistance and decreasing insulin sensitivity, which places a woman at increased risk for GDM. Exercise facilitates the uptake of blood glucose into cells to be used for energy, making exercise a potential strategy in preventing GDM. Extensive evidence has found an association between consistent moderate to vigorous exercise in pregnancy and the prevention of GDM. With close attention to risk factors, maternity care nurses and other health care providers can play an important role in educating pregnant women on exercise recommendations to help them achieve optimal health and wellness.

Fetal nondiabetic-macrosomia: risk factors for pregnancy adverse outcome and comparison of two growth curves in the prediction of cesarean section

BACKGROUND

Randomized trials reported no difference whether induction or expectant management is performed in non-diabetic women with large for gestational age babies but no tool has been validated for the prediction of high risk cases.

AIM

Assessing the performance of different growth curves in the prediction of complications.

METHODS

Data from 1066 consecutive non-diabetic women who delivered babies ≥4000 g were collected. Logistic regression analysis was used to analyze the impact of the maternal variables on: instrumental delivery, shoulder dystocia (SD), perineal tears, cesarean section (CS), and postpartum hemorrhage. Intergrowth21 curves and customized Gardosi's curves were compared in terms of prediction of adverse outcomes.

FINDINGS

Induction of labor was performed in 23.1% cases. The rate of CS was 17%. Hemorrhage, fetal distress, and SD occurred in 2%, 1.3%, and 2.7% of cases, respectively. Induction was significantly associated with instrumental delivery (p < .001), CS (p = .001), third and fourth degree perineal tears (p = .031), and post-partum hemorrhage (p = .02). The cutoff of 90th percentile according to Intergrowth21 did not show significant performance in predicting CS, while the same cutoff according to the Gardosi curves showed an OR 1.92 (CI 1.30-2.84) (p = .0009).

DISCUSSION

Gardosi curves showed a better performance in predicting the risk of CS versus Intergrowth curves. Induction is significantly associated with adverse outcome in non-diabetic women with LGA babies.

Research Gaps in Gestational Diabetes Mellitus: Executive Summary of a National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases Workshop

The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases convened a workshop on research gaps in gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) with a focus on 1) early pregnancy diagnosis and treatment and 2) pharmacologic treatment strategies. This article summarizes the proceedings of the workshop. In early pregnancy, the appropriate diagnostic criteria for the diagnosis of GDM remain poorly defined, and an effect of early diagnosis and treatment on the risk of adverse outcomes has not been demonstrated. Despite many small randomized controlled trials of glucose-lowering medication treatment in GDM, our understanding of medication management of GDM is incomplete as evidenced by discrepancies among professional society treatment guidelines. The comparative effectiveness of insulin, metformin, and glyburide remains uncertain, particularly with respect to long-term outcomes. Additional topics in need of further research identified by workshop participants included phenotypic heterogeneity in GDM and novel and individualized treatment approaches. Further research on these topics is likely to improve our understanding of the pathophysiology and treatment of GDM to improve both short- and long-term outcomes for mothers and their children.

Fetal Hemodynamics and Fetal Growth Indices by Ultrasound in Late Pregnancy and Birth Weight in Gestational Diabetes Mellitus

Background:

The offspring of women with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) are prone to macrosomia. However, birth weight is difficult to be correctly estimated by ultrasound because of fetal asymmetric growth characteristics. This study aimed to investigate the correlations between fetal hemodynamics, fetal growth indices in late pregnancy, and birth weight in GDM.

Methods:

A total of 147 women with GDM and 124 normal controls (NC) were enrolled in this study. Fetal hemodynamic indices, including the systolic/diastolic ratio (S/D), resistance index (RI), pulsatility index (PI) of umbilical artery (UA), middle cerebral artery (MCA), and renal artery (RA), were collected. Fetal growth indices, including biparietal diameter (BPD), head circumference (HC), abdominal circumference (AC), and femur length, were also measured by ultrasound. Birth weight, newborn gender, and maternal clinical data were collected.

Results:

The independent samples t-test showed that BPD, HC, and AC were larger in GDM than in NC (P < 0.05). Fetal hemodynamic indices of the UA and MCA were lower (P < 0.05), but those of the RA were higher (P < 0.001) in GDM than in NC. Birth weight was higher in GDM than in NC (P < 0.001). Pearson's correlation analysis showed that hemodynamic indices of the UA were negatively correlated with birth weight, BPD, HC, and AC in both groups (P < 0.05). MCA (S/D, PI, and RI) was negatively correlated with birth weight, HC, and AC in GDM (r = −0.164, −0.206, −0.200, −0.226, −0.189, −0.179, −0.196, −0.177, and − 0.172, respectively, P < 0.05), but there were no correlations in NC (P > 0.05). RA (S/D, PI, and RI) was positively correlated with birth weight in GDM (r = 0.168, 0.207, and 0.184, respectively, P < 0.05), but there were no correlations in NC (P > 0.05).

Conclusion:

Fetal hemodynamic indices in late pregnancy might be helpful for estimating newborn birth weight in women with GDM.

Increased osteoprotegerin levels in women with previous gestational diabetes developing metabolic syndrome

Osteoprotegerin (OPG), a novel soluble member of tumour necrosis factor receptor superfamily, has been shown to link cardiovascular disorders. The aim of this study is to investigate the potential relationship between serum OPG levels, cardiovascular risk factors and metabolic syndrome in a relatively large group of women with previous GDM. In this cross-sectional case-control study, 128 women with previous GDM and 67 age-matched controls were enrolled. Subjects were evaluated for the diagnosis of metabolic syndrome according to the criteria of the American Heart Association (AHA). Fasting glucose, insulin, serum lipids, CRP and OPG were assayed. HOMA score was calculated. Carotid intima media thickness (IMT) was measured. There was no significant increase in OPG levels in women with previous GDM when compared to controls. On the other hand, women with previous GDM developing metabolic syndrome had higher OPG levels than those without metabolic syndrome and healthy controls. Serum OPG levels were associated with obesity, insulin resistance, serum CRP and carotid IMT. Serum OPG is related to cardiovascular risk factors and metabolic syndrome, and might be involved in the development of cardiovascular disorders in women with previous GDM.

Recurrence of gestational diabetes mellitus: rates and risk factors from initial GDM and one abnormal GTT value

The recurrence rate of GDM among women in Japan who had GDM or one abnormal value on 75 g oral glucose tolerance test (OAV) during an initial pregnancy is unclear. We therefore sought to determine the recurrence rate and risk factors of recurrent GDM by evaluating 32 patients with GDM and 37 with OAV in their index pregnancies. Medical records and chemical data were compared between patients with and without GDM in their subsequent pregnancies. The recurrence rate from index GDM and OAV were 65.6% and 40.5%. Age, BMI before pregnancy, an increased weight gain between pregnancies and a short interval between pregnancies were risk factors for recurrence from the initial GDM. An increased weight gain between pregnancies and a short interval between pregnancies were risk factors of development to GDM from the initial OAV. We concluded that the control of weight gain and interval between pregnancies could be important to reduce GDM recurrence.

Health sciences research and Aboriginal communities: pathway or pitfall?

OBJECTIVE

To provide health researchers and clinicians with background information and examples regarding Aboriginal health research challenges, in an effort to promote effective collaborative research with Aboriginal communities.

METHODS

An interdisciplinary team of experienced Aboriginal-health researchers conducted a thematic analysis of their planning meetings regarding a community-based Aboriginal health research training project and of the text generated by the meetings and supplemented the analysis with a literature review.

RESULTS

Four research challenges are identified and addressed: (1) contrasting frameworks of Western science and indigenous knowledge systems; (2) the impact of historic colonialist processes upon the interface between health science research and Aboriginal communities; (3) culturally relevant frameworks and processes for knowledge generation and knowledge transfer; and (4) Aboriginal leadership, governance, and participation.

CONCLUSION

Culturally appropriate and community-controlled collaborative research can result in improved health outcomes in Aboriginal communities and contribute new insights and perspectives to the fields of public health and medicine in general.

Occurrence of gestational diabetes mellitus and the value of different screening indicators for the oral glucose tolerance test

BACKGROUND

The objective of the present study was to determine prevalence of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) in terms of impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) and diabetes mellitus (DM), and the value of traditional anamnestic risk factors for predicting outcome of the oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT).

METHODS

A prospective population-based study in a defined geographic area in Sweden. All pregnant nondiabetic women (n = 4918) attending maternal health care from July 1994 to June 1996 were offered a 75g OGTT in gestational weeks 28-32. Traditional anamnestic risk factors, as well as results of the OGTT in terms of fasting-B-glucose and 2h-B-glucose, were registered.

RESULTS

3616 (73.5%) women agreed to perform the OGTT. Sixty-one (1.7%) of those had GDM [47 (1.3%) had impaired glucose tolerance and 14 (0.4%) had diabetes mellitus]. 15.8% fulfilled traditional risk factor criteria. Traditional anamnestic risk factors as an indicator to perform an OGTT identified 29/61 GDM women and 9/14 women with DM. Among primiparas, 4/21 with gestational diabetes mellitus were detected.

CONCLUSION

Using traditional risk factors as an indicator to perform an OGTT gives a low sensitivity to detect GDM and even DM especially among primiparas.

Recurrence of gestational diabetes: who is at risk?

OBJECTIVE

The object was to determine the recurrence rate of gestational diabetes mellitus and to find various risk factors that might increase this rate.

STUDY DESIGN

Seventy-eight patients with gestational diabetes mellitus in their index pregnancies were evaluated in subsequent pregnancies. Medical records for the index and subsequent pregnancies were abstracted for age, parity, body mass index, birth weight, gestational age of gestational diabetes mellitus diagnosis, insulin requirement, weight gain, and interval between pregnancies. These variables were then compared between patients with and without gestational diabetes mellitus in their subsequent pregnancies.

RESULTS

Fifty-four of 78 patients (69%) had gestational diabetes mellitus in a subsequent pregnancy. The recurrence of gestational diabetes mellitus was more common when the following variables were present in the index pregnancy: parity > or = 1 (P < .004; odds ratio 3.0, 95% confidence interval 1.4-4.8), body mass index > or = 30 kg/m2 (P < .04; odds ratio 3.6, 95% confidence interval 1.1-25.9), gestational diabetes mellitus diagnosis at < or = 24 gestational weeks (P < .0003; odds ratio 20.4, 95% confidence interval 2.5-444), and insulin requirement (P < .0002; odds ratio 2.3, 95% confidence interval 1.3-3.4). A weight gain of > or = 15 pounds (P < .003; odds ratio 2.9, 95% confidence interval 1.0-5.3) and an interval between pregnancies < or = 24 months (P < .03; odds ratio 1.6, 95% confidence interval 1.1-2.2) were also associated with a recurrence of gestational diabetes mellitus. A multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that an interval of < or = 24 months and a weight gain of > or = 15 pounds between pregnancies were most strongly correlated with a recurrence of gestational diabetes mellitus.

CONCLUSIONS

Gestational diabetes mellitus is more likely to recur in parous, obese women who had an early gestational diabetes mellitus diagnosis and required insulin in the index pregnancy. In addition, a shorter interval (< or = 24 months) and a larger weight gain (> or = 15 pounds) between pregnancies appear to be the most significant risk factors for a recurrence of gestational diabetes mellitus.

Selective screening for gestational diabetes mellitus. Toronto Trihospital Gestational Diabetes Project Investigators

BACKGROUND

The usual approach to detecting gestational diabetes mellitus is to screen all pregnant women by measuring their plasma glucose after a 50-g oral glucose load at 24 to 28 weeks' gestation. Women are referred for an oral glucose-tolerance test if the plasma glucose concentration one hour later is > or = 140 mg per deciliter (7.8 mmol per liter). We hypothesized that the efficiency of screening could be enhanced by considering women's risks of gestational diabetes on the basis of their clinical characteristics.

METHODS

We studied 3131 pregnant women who underwent both the screening and the diagnostic tests. We randomly selected data on half the women and used them to derive new screening strategies. We categorized each woman's risk of gestational diabetes mellitus on the basis of her age, body-mass index before pregnancy, and race. We developed strategies that entailed no screening for low-risk women, usual care for intermediate-risk women, and universal screening with lower thresholds -- plasma glucose values of 130 mg per deciliter (7.2 mmol per liter) or 128 mg per deciliter (7.1 mmol per liter) -- for high-risk women. The strategies were validated with data on the other half of the women.

RESULTS

The new strategies allowed a 34.6 percent reduction in the number of screening tests performed (95 percent confidence interval, 32.3 to 37.0) and detected 81.2 to 82.6 percent of the women with gestational diabetes as compared with the 78.3 percent detected through usual care. The percentage of false positive screening tests was significantly reduced, from 17.9 percent with usual care to 16.0 per cent (P=0.02) or 15.4 percent (P<0.001) with the new strategies, depending on the threshold values for high-risk women.

CONCLUSIONS

Consideration of women's clinical characteristics allows efficient selective screening for gestational diabetes.

Impact of time since last meal on the gestational glucose challenge test. The Toronto Tri-Hospital Gestational Diabetes Project

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of the study was to evaluate the impact of time since the last meal on the glucose challenge test and to find cut points that are most likely to predict the outcome of the oral glucose tolerance test in patients screened for gestational diabetes.

STUDY DESIGN

This prospective analytic cohort study was carried out at the University of Toronto Perinatal Complex. A 50 gm glucose load was given at 26 weeks' gestation and the time since previous meal ingestion was recorded. At 28 weeks' gestation a 100 gm oral glucose tolerance test was administered. A total of 4274 eligible patients were screened.

RESULTS

Time since the last meal had a marked effect on mean plasma glucose. Receiver-operator characteristic curve analysis with National Diabetes Data Group criteria to interpret the oral glucose tolerance allowed the selection of the most efficient cut points for the glucose challenge test on the basis of time since the last meal. These cut points were 8.2, 7.9, and 8.3 mmol/L for elapsed postprandial times of < 2, 2 to 3, and > 3 hours, respectively. With this change from the current threshold of 7.8 mmol/L the number of patients with a positive screening test dropped from 18.5% to 13.7%. There was an increase in positive predictive value from 14.4% to 18.7%. The rate of patient misclassification fell from 18.0% to 13.1%.

CONCLUSION

We suggest that screening strategies for detection of gestational diabetes be reconsidered, to account for the impact of variable postprandial status on the test results.

Glycated hemoglobin of fractionated erythrocytes, glycated albumin, and plasma fructosamine during pregnancy

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate glucose metabolism during pregnancy, we measured plasma fructosamine, glycated albumin, and the stable glycated hemoglobin of the light and dense erythrocytes.

STUDY DESIGN

The abnormal glucose tolerance group comprised patients with gestational diabetes and those with one abnormal value on a 75 gm oral glucose tolerance test. Erythrocyte fractionation was performed by capillary centrifugation.

RESULTS

In normal pregnancy glycated hemoglobin of the light erythrocytes was reduced in the second and third trimesters (3.42% +/- 0.62% [mean +/- SD] [n = 306] in the first trimester, 2.15% +/- 0.48% [n = 353] in the second, and 2.06% +/- 0.58% [n = 300] in the third), and dense erythrocytes were higher in the third trimester (first 4.59% +/- 0.46%, second 4.70% +/- 0.49%, third 5.29% +/- 0.73%). Glycated albumin and fructosamine followed a pattern similar to the light erythrocytes. The group with abnormal glucose tolerance had significantly higher levels of glycated hemoglobin of the light erythrocytes in the first and third trimesters and glycated hemoglobin of the dense erythrocytes and glycated albumin in all trimesters.

CONCLUSION

The biphasic change in nonfractionated glycated hemoglobin is the sum of the lower glycated hemoglobin of the light erythrocytes and the higher glycated hemoglobin of the dense erythrocytes in late pregnancy. The stable glycated hemoglobin of fractionated erythrocytes and the glycated albumin accurately reflect maternal glucose metabolism during pregnancy.

Gestational diabetes-perinatal outcome with a policy of liberal and intensive insulin therapy

During 3 years of continuous screening for gestational diabetes mellitus in the county of Uppsala, 133 pregnant women (1.2%) were given this diagnosis. Maternal characteristics and the perinatal outcome of the pregnancies were examined retrospectively. Maternal overweight [body mass index greater than 23.9 kg/(m)2] was noted in 54.9% of the 133 women. Insulin therapy, with a mean daily dose of 42 U, was given to 62.4% of the patients, whereas the others were given dietary instructions alone. The frequency of infants with a birth weight greater than 2 SD was 24.1% and was significantly (p less than 0.025) related to pre-pregnancy overweight and also to pregnancy weight gain 18kg (p less than 0.01). Caesarean section was performed in 27% of the pregnancies complicated by diabetes, compared with the overall figure of 11% in Uppsala during the study period. Neonatal hypoglycaemia (blood glucose greater than or equal to 1.6 mM) was noted in 17.3% of the infants and was significantly (p less than 0.01) related to maternal sympathomimetic therapy. Despite liberal and intensive insulin therapy, there was a considerable rate of perinatal complications. Although not severe, they indicate a need for further improvement in the care of women with gestational diabetes.

Routine testing and prophylaxis

Routine testing and prophylaxis is considered in terms of haematological disorders, biochemical testing, hormonal testing, screening for gestational diabetes and nutritional deficiencies. Within these headings the place of routine supplementation of pregnant women with iron, vitamins, trace elements and an increased protein/calorie intake is discussed. Screening for haemoglobinopathies, irregular blood group antibodies and gestational diabetes is dealt with in detail. The place for routine prophylaxis with anti-D is considered. Biochemical and hormonal testing is covered with particular reference to the use of biochemical and hormonal assays as placental function tests and their use in assessing fetal well-being. In this respect the use of biochemical and hormonal tests to screen a pregnant population for intrauterine growth retardation is also discussed.

Diabetes and pregnancy

Despite improvement in perinatal outcome over the past several decades, controversy still exists regarding both the management and pathophysiology of pregnancy complicated by diabetes mellitus. In this article, potential factors contributing to morbidity observed in the offspring of diabetic women are considered. The clinical management of insulin-dependent and gestational diabetes is also discussed.

The effect of chronic steroid therapy on glucose tolerance in pregnancy

We analyzed the records of 26 pregnant patients receiving chronic steroids to assess the combined effect of pregnancy and glucocorticoid administration on glucose tolerance. Five patients (19.2%) developed diabetes mellitus, four of whom required insulin. In a pregnant control group of 1325 patients, 53 patients (4.0%) developed diabetes mellitus, five of whom required insulin. Glucose intolerance was significantly higher in the steroid-treated group (p = 0.003). Comparison with a nonpregnant steroid-treated control group (47 patients, 15% of whom developed diabetes mellitus) showed no significant different (p = 0.23) between the two. All pregnant steroid-treated patients developing diabetes mellitus began steroid therapy after conception, whereas none of the patients receiving steroid therapy before conception developed glucose intolerance (p = 0.012). There does not appear to be an additive effect of steroid treatment and pregnancy on glucose intolerance; however, all patients receiving steroids should undergo periodic glucose screening.