New diagnostic criteria for gestational diabetes mellitus and their impact on the number of diagnoses and pregnancy outcomes

Improving maternal and neonatal outcomes for women with gestational diabetes through continuity of midwifery care: A cross-sectional study

PROBLEM

Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (GDM) is a complication of pregnancy which may exclude women from midwife-led models of care.

BACKGROUND

There is a paucity of research evaluating the safety and feasibility of continuity of midwifery care (CoMC) for women with GDM.

AIM

To investigate the impact of CoMC on maternal and neonatal outcomes, for otherwise low-risk women with GDM.

METHODS

This exploratory cross-sectional study observed maternal and neonatal outcomes including onset of labour, augmentation, labour analgesia, mode of birth, perineal trauma, gestation at birth, shoulder dystocia, infant birth weight, neonatal feeding at discharge.

FINDINGS

Participants were 287 otherwise low-risk pregnant women, who developed GDM, and either received CoMC (n=36) or standard hospital maternity care (non-CoMC) (n=251). Women with GDM who received CoMC were significantly more likely to experience an spontaneous onset of labour (OR 6.3; 95% CI 2.7-14.5; p<.001), labour without an epidural (OR 4.2; 95% CI 2.0 - 9.2,<0.001) and exclusively breastfeed (OR 4.3; 95% CI 1.26 - 14.32; p=0.02).

DISCUSSION

Receiving CoMC may be a public health initiative which not only improves maternal and neonatal outcomes, but also long-term morbidity associated with GDM.

CONCLUSION

Findings provide preliminary evidence suggesting CoMC improves maternal and neonatal outcomes and is likely a safe and viable option for otherwise low-risk women with GDM. Larger studies are recommended to confirm findings and explore the full impact of CoMC for women with GDM.

Exploring Structural Uncertainty in Cost-Effectiveness Modeling of Gestational Diabetes Screening: An Application Example from Norway

BACKGROUND

Screening pregnant women for gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) has recently been expanded in Norway, although screening eligibility criteria continue to be debated. We aimed to compare the cost-effectiveness of alternative GDM screening strategies and explored structural uncertainty and the value of future research in determining the most cost-effective eligibility criteria for GDM screening in Norway.

DESIGN

We developed a probabilistic decision tree to estimate the total costs and health benefits (i.e., quality-adjusted life-years; QALYs) associated with 4 GDM screening strategies (universal, current guidelines, high-risk, and no screening). We identified the most cost-effective strategy as the strategy with the highest incremental cost-effectiveness ratio below a Norwegian benchmark for cost-effectiveness ($28,400/QALY). We excluded inconclusive evidence on the effects of screening on later maternal type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in the primary analysis but included this outcome in a secondary analysis using 2 different sources of evidence (i.e., Cochrane or US Preventive Services Task Force). To quantify decision uncertainty, we conducted scenario analysis and value-of-information analyses.

RESULTS

Current screening recommendations were considered inefficient in all analyses, while universal screening was most cost-effective in our primary analysis ($26,014/QALY gained) and remained most cost-effective when we assumed a preventive effect of GDM treatment on T2DM. When we assumed no preventive effect, high-risk screening was preferred ($19,115/QALY gained). When we assumed GDM screening does not prevent perinatal death in scenario analysis, all strategies except no screening exceeded the cost-effectiveness benchmark. In most analyses, decision uncertainty was high.

CONCLUSIONS

The most cost-effective screening strategy, ranging from no screening to universal screening, depended on the source and inclusion of GDM treatment effects on perinatal death and T2DM. Further research on these long-term outcomes could reduce decision uncertainty.

HIGHLIGHTS

This article analyses the cost-effectiveness of 4 alternative gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) screening strategies in Norway: universal screening, current (broad) screening, high-risk screening, and no screening.The current Norwegian screening recommendations were considered inefficient under all analyses.The most cost-effective screening strategy ranged from no screening to universal screening depending on the source and inclusion of GDM treatment effects on later maternal diabetes and perinatal death.The parameters related to later maternal diabetes and perinatal death accounted for most of the decision uncertainty.

National and regional prevalence of gestational diabetes mellitus in India: a systematic review and Meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is frequently misdiagnosed during pregnancy. There is an abundance of evidence, but little is known regarding the regional prevalence estimates of GDM in India. This systematic review and meta-analysis aims to provide valuable insights into the national and regional prevalence of GDM among pregnant women in India.

METHODS

We conducted an initial article search on PubMed, Scopus, Google Scholar, and ShodhGanga searches to identify quantitative research papers (database inception till 15th June,2022). This review included prevalence studies that estimated the occurrence of GDM across different states in India.

RESULTS

Two independent reviewers completed the screening of 2393 articles, resulting in the identification of 110 articles that met the inclusion criteria, which collectively provided 117 prevalence estimates. Using a pooled estimate calculation (with an Inverse square heterogeneity model), the pooled prevalence of GDM in pregnant women was estimated to be 13%, with a 95% confidence interval (CI) ranging from 9 to 16%.. In India, Diabetes in Pregnancy Study of India (DIPSI) was the most common diagnostic criteria used, followed by International Association of Diabetes and Pregnancy Study Groups (IADPSG) and World Health Organization (WHO) 1999. It was observed that the rural population has slightly less prevalence of GDM at 10.0% [6.0-13.0%, I2=96%] when compared to the urban population where the prevalence of GDM was 12.0% [9.0-16.0%, I2 = 99%].

CONCLUSIONS

This review emphasizes the lack of consensus in screening and diagnosing gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), leading to varied prevalence rates across Indian states. It thoroughly examines the controversies regarding GDM screening by analyzing population characteristics, geographic variations, diagnostic criteria agreement, screening timing, fasting vs. non-fasting approaches, cost-effectiveness, and feasibility, offering valuable recommendations for policy makers. By fostering the implementation of state-wise screening programs, it can contribute to improving maternal and neonatal outcomes and promoting healthier pregnancies across the country.

Positive association between circulating Caveolin-1 and microalbuminuria in overt diabetes mellitus in pregnancy

AIMS

Mounting evidence has shown that caveolin-1 plays a pathological role in the progression of albuminuria. Our study aimed to provide clinical evidence showing whether circulating caveolin-1 levels were associated with microalbuminuria (MAU) in women with overt diabetes mellitus in pregnancy (ODMIP).

METHODS

A total of 150 pregnant women were enrolled in different groups, including 40 women with ODMIP and MAU (ODMIP + MAU), 40 women with ODMIP, and 70 women without ODMIP (Non-ODMIP). Plasma caveolin-1 levels were determined by ELISA. The presence of caveolin-1 in the human umbilical vein vascular wall was evaluated by immunohistochemical and western blot analysis, respectively. Albumin transcytosis across endothelial cells was measured using an established nonradioactive in vitro approach.

RESULTS

Significantly increased levels of plasma caveolin-1 were detected in ODMIP + MAU women. The Pearson's correlation analysis revealed a positive correlation between plasma caveolin-1 levels and Hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c %) as well as with MAU in the ODMIP + MAU group. Simultaneously, experimental knockdown or overexpression of caveolin-1 significantly decreased or increased the level of albumin transcytosis across both human and mouse glomerular endothelial cells (GECs), respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Our data showed a positive association between plasma caveolin-1 levels and microalbuminuria in ODMIP + MAU.

Predicting adverse perinatal outcomes among gestational diabetes complicated pregnancies using neural network algorithm

OBJECTIVE

The primary aim of this study is to utilize a neural network model to predict adverse neonatal outcomes in pregnancies complicated by gestational diabetes (GDM).

DESIGN

Our model, based on XGBoost, was implemented using Python 3.6 with the Keras framework built on TensorFlow by Google. We sourced data from medical records of GDM-diagnosed individuals who delivered at our tertiary medical center between 2012 and 2016. The model included simple pregnancy parameters, maternal age, body mass index (BMI), parity, gravity, results of oral glucose tests, treatment modality, and glycemic control. The composite neonatal adverse outcomes defined as one of the following: large or small for gestational age, shoulder dystocia, fetal umbilical pH less than 7.2, neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) admission, respiratory distress syndrome (RDS), hyperbilirubinemia, or polycythemia. For the machine training phase, 70% of the cohort was randomly chosen. Each sample in this set consisted of baseline parameters and the composite outcome. The remaining samples were then employed to assess the accuracy of our model.

RESULTS

The study encompassed a total of 452 participants. The composite adverse outcome occurred in 29% of cases. Our model exhibited prediction accuracies of 82% at the time of GDM diagnosis and 91% at delivery. The factors most contributing to the prediction model were maternal age, pre-pregnancy BMI, and the results of the single 3-h 100 g oral glucose tolerance test.

CONCLUSION

Our advanced neural network algorithm has significant potential in predicting adverse neonatal outcomes in GDM-diagnosed individuals.

Pregnancy outcomes of women with untreated 'mild' gestational diabetes (gestational diabetes by the WHO 2013 but not by the WHO-1999 diagnostic criteria) - A population-based cohort study

AIMS

We compared pregnancy outcomes of untreated 'mild' GDM (GDM by WHO 2013 but not by WHO-1999) to normal glucose tolerant women (NGT).

METHODS

In a universal screening program 4333 pregnant women had a 3-point 75 g OGTT in Hungary in 2009-2013. By WHO-2013 untreated NGT was diagnosed in n = 3303, 'mild' GDM in n = 336 cases.

RESULTS

'Mild' GDM women were older (mean difference, SE: 1.4, 0.3 yrs), had higher fasting (1.0, 0.02), 60-minute (1.0, 0.09), and 120-minute (0.4, 0.06 mmol/l) blood glucose, and blood pressure (2.6, 0.5/2.0, 0.5 mmHg). Weight gain was similar in both groups (-0.3, 0.3 kg). GDM newborns were heavier (142, 50 g) and were more frequently macrosomic (>4000 g, OR 1.85, 95 %CI 1.35-2.54). Hypertension during pregnancy was more prevalent in the GDM group (OR 1.55, 95 %CI 1.05-2.28), as well as induced (OR 1.38, 95 %CI 1.10-1.74) and instrumental delivery (OR 1.34, 95 %CI 1.07-1.68), and acute caesarean section (OR 1.32, 95 %CI 1.04-1.64). Most of these differences substantially attenuated or became non-significant after adjustment for pre-pregnancy BMI.

CONCLUSIONS

Pregnancy outcomes of 'mild' GDM were worse compared to normal glucose tolerant women however these differences were explained by the pre-pregnancy BMI difference between groups.

Establishment and validation of a predictive nomogram for gestational diabetes mellitus during early pregnancy term: A retrospective study

OBJECTIVE

This study aims to develop and evaluate a predictive nomogram for early assessment risk factors of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) during early pregnancy term, so as to help early clinical management and intervention.

METHODS

A total of 824 pregnant women at Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University and Maternal and Child Health Hospital of Hubei Province from 1 February 2020 to 30 April 2020 were enrolled in a retrospective observational study and comprised the training dataset. Routine clinical and laboratory information was collected; we applied least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) logistic regression and multivariate ROC risk analysis to determine significant predictors and establish the nomogram, and the early pregnancy files (gestational weeks 12-16, n = 392) at the same hospital were collected as a validation dataset. We evaluated the nomogram via the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve, C-index, calibration curve, and decision curve analysis (DCA).

RESULTS

We conducted LASSO analysis and multivariate regression to establish a GDM nomogram during the early pregnancy term; the five selected risk predictors are as follows: age, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), fibrinogen-to-albumin ratio (FAR), blood urea nitrogen-to-creatinine ratio (BUN/Cr), and blood urea nitrogen-to-albumin ratio (BUN/ALB). The calibration curve and DCA present optimal predictive power. DCA demonstrates that the nomogram could be applied clinically.

CONCLUSION

An effective nomogram that predicts GDM should be established in order to help clinical management and intervention at the early gestational stage.

Genetic predisposition to gestational diabetes mellitus in the Kazakh population

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

The purpose of the study was to conduct a comparative analysis of population frequencies of alleles and genotypes of polymorphic variants of genes for impaired insulin synthesis and associated with insulin signal transduction.

METHODS

This investigation uses a genomic database of 1800 conditionally healthy individuals of Kazakh ethnicity, who underwent full genome genotyping using OmniChip 2.5-8 Illumina chips of ∼2.5 million Single Nucleotide Polymorphism at deCODE Iceland Genomic Centre.

RESULTS

The highest frequency of carriage of minor A allele - 17.6% rs4607517 polymorphism of Glucokinase gene, unfavorable genotypes A/G - 29.5% and A/A - 3.0% in comparison with European and Asian populations, indicates a contribution of hereditary family forms of Maturity-onset diabetes of the young type 2 to gestational diabetes mellitus in Kazakh population.

CONCLUSIONS

The study of the associations of genetic markers of gestational diabetes mellitus will allow timely identification of high-risk groups before and at an early stage of pregnancy, carrying out the necessary effective preventive measures and, in the case of gestational diabetes mellitus development, optimizing the correction of carbohydrate metabolism disorders and predicting outcomes for the mother and the fetus.

Evolution of Gestational Diabetes Mellitus across Continents in 21st Century

Over the last few decades, several definitions of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) have been described. There is currently not enough research to show which way is the best to diagnose GDM. Opinions differ in terms of the optimal screening and diagnostic measures, in part due to the differences in the population risks, the cost-effectiveness considerations, and the lack of an evidence base to support large national screening programs. The basic method for identifying the disease is the measurement of glucose plasma levels which may be determined when fasting, two hours after a meal, or simply at any random time. The currently increasing incidence of diabetes in the whole population, the altering demographics and the presence of lifestyle changes still require better methods of screening for hyperglycemia, especially during pregnancy. The main aim of this review is to focus on the prevalence and modifications to the screening criteria for GDM across all continents in the 21st century. We would like to show the differences in the above issues and correlate them with the geographical situation. Looking at the history of diabetes, we are sure that more than one evolution in GDM diagnosis will occur, due to the development of medicine, appearance of modern technologies, and the dynamic continuation of research.

Glycated albumin in pregnancy: LC-MS/MS-based reference interval in healthy, nulliparous Scandinavian women and its diagnostic accuracy in gestational diabetes mellitus

Glycated albumin (GA) may be a useful biomarker of glycemia in pregnancy. The aim of this study was to establish the reference interval (RI) for GA, analyzed by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS), in healthy, nulliparous pregnant women. In addition, we assessed the accuracy of GA and glycated hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) in the diagnosis of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). Finally, we explored the prevalence of GDM in healthy nulliparas, comparing three diagnostic guidelines (WHO-1999, WHO-2013 and the Norwegian guideline). The study was carried out at Stavanger University Hospital, Norway, and included a study population of 147 pregnant nulliparous women. An oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) was performed and used as the gold standard for GDM diagnosis. Blood samples for analysis of GA and HbA1c were collected at pregnancy week 24-28. A nonparametric approach was chosen for RI calculation, and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were used to evaluate the diagnostic performance of GA and HbA1c. The established RI for GA in 121 pregnant women was 7.1-11.6%. The area under the ROC curves (AUCs) were 0.531 (GA) and 0.627 (HbA1c). According to the WHO-1999, WHO-2013 and the Norwegian guideline, respectively, 24 (16%), 36 (24%) and 21 (14%) women were diagnosed with GDM. Only nine women (6%) fulfilled the GDM-criteria of all guidelines. In conclusion, we established the first LC-MS/MS-based RI for GA in pregnant women. At pregnancy weeks 24-28, neither GA nor HbA1c discriminated between those with and without GDM. Different women were diagnosed with GDM using the three guidelines.

Rural healthcare delivery and maternal and infant outcomes for diabetes in pregnancy: A systematic review

Aim

The aim of this systematic review was to examine the literature regarding rural healthcare delivery for women with any type of diabetes in pregnancy, and subsequent maternal and infant outcomes.

Methods

Eight databases were searched in September 2020, including Medline, EMCare, CINAHL, EMBASE, Maternity and Infant Care, Cochrane, Rural and Remote Health and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health bibliography. Studies from high‐income countries in rural, regional or remote areas with interventions conducted during the antenatal period were included. Intervention details were reported using the template for intervention description and replication template. Two reviewers independently assessed for risk of bias using the RoB2 and ROBINS I tools.

Results

Three articles met the inclusion criteria: two conducted in Australia and one in the United States. A multidisciplinary approach was reported in two of the included studies, which were modified specifically for their respective rural settings. All three studies reported rates of caesarean section, birthweight (grams) and gestational age at birth as maternal and infant outcomes. One study was considered at moderate risk of bias, and two studies were at serious risk of bias.

Conclusion

There is a significant gap in research relating to healthcare delivery for women with diabetes in pregnancy in rural areas. This lack of research is concerning given that 19% of individuals in high‐income countries reside rurally. Further research is required to understand the implications of healthcare delivery models for diabetes in pregnancy in rural areas.

The association between gestational diabetes and stillbirth: a systematic review and meta-analysis

AIMS/HYPOTHESIS

Controversy exists over whether gestational diabetes increases the risk of stillbirth. The aim of this review was to examine the association between gestational diabetes and stillbirth.

METHODS

We performed searches of the published literature to May 2021. Study selection and data extraction were performed in duplicate by independent reviewers. Meta-analyses of summary measures were conducted using random-effect models for cohort and case-control studies separately. The study protocol was registered in PROSPERO (registration ID CRD42020166939).

RESULTS

From 9981 citations, 419 were identified for full-text review and 73 met inclusion criteria (n = 70,292,090). There was no significant association between gestational diabetes and stillbirth in cohort studies (pooled OR 1.04 [95% CI 0.90, 1.21]; I² 86.1%) or in case-control studies (pooled OR 1.57 [95% CI 0.83, 2.98]; I² 94.8%). Gestational diabetes was associated with lower odds of stillbirth among cohort studies presenting with an adjusted OR (pooled OR 0.78 [95% CI 0.68, 0.88]; I² 42.7%). Stratified analyses by stillbirth ≥28 weeks' gestation, studies published prior to 2013 and studies identified as low quality demonstrated a significantly higher odds of stillbirth in meta-regression (p = 0.016, 0.023 and 0.005, respectively). Egger's test for all included cohort studies (p = 0.018) suggests publication bias for the main meta-analysis.

CONCLUSIONS/INTERPRETATION

Given the substantial heterogeneity across studies, there are insufficient data to define the relationship between stillbirth and gestational diabetes adequately. In the main analyes, gestational diabetes was not associated with an increased risk of stillbirth. However, heterogeneity across studies means this finding should be interpreted cautiously.

Gestational Diabetes Mellitus in Europe: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Prevalence Studies

Background

Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (GDM) is defined as the type of hyperglycemia diagnosed for the first-time during pregnancy, presenting with intermediate glucose levels between normal levels for pregnancy and glucose levels diagnostic of diabetes in the non-pregnant state. We aimed to systematically review and meta-analyze studies of prevalence of GDM in European countries at regional and sub-regional levels, according to age, trimester, body weight, and GDM diagnostic criteria.

Methods

Systematic search was conducted in five databases to retrieve studies from 2014 to 2019 reporting the prevalence of GDM in Europe. Two authors have independently screened titles and abstracts and full text according to eligibility using Covidence software. A random-effects model was used to quantify weighted GDM prevalence estimates. The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute criteria was used to assess the risk of bias.

Results

From the searched databases, 133 research reports were deemed eligible and included in the meta-analysis. The research reports yielded 254 GDM-prevalence studies that tested 15,572,847 pregnant women between 2014 and 2019. The 133 research reports were from 24 countries in Northern Europe (44.4%), Southern Europe (27.1%), Western Europe (24.1%), and Eastern Europe (4.5%). The overall weighted GDM prevalence in the 24 European countries was estimated at 10.9% (95% CI: 10.0-11.8, I2 : 100%). The weighted GDM prevalence was highest in the Eastern Europe (31.5%, 95% CI: 19.8-44.6, I2 : 98.9%), followed by in Southern Europe (12.3%, 95% CI: 10.9-13.9, I2 : 99.6%), Western Europe (10.7%, 95% CI: 9.5-12.0, I2 : 99.9%), and Northern Europe (8.9%, 95% CI: 7.9-10.0, I2 : 100). GDM prevalence was 2.14-fold increased in pregnant women with maternal age ≥30 years (versus 15-29 years old), 1.47-fold if the diagnosis was made in the third trimester (versus second trimester), and 6.79- fold in obese and 2.29-fold in overweight women (versus normal weight).

Conclusions

In Europe, GDM is significant in pregnant women, around 11%, with the highest prevalence in pregnant women of Eastern European countries (31.5%). Findings have implications to guide vigilant public health awareness campaigns about the risk factors associated with developing GDM.

Systematic Review Registration

PROSPERO [https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/], identifier CRD42020161857.

Periodontitis and Gestational Diabetes Mellitus: A Potential Inflammatory Vicious Cycle

Periodontitis is a chronic inflammatory immune disease associated with a dysbiotic state, influenced by keystone bacterial species responsible for disrupting the periodontal tissue homeostasis. Furthermore, the severity of periodontitis is determined by the interaction between the immune cell response in front of periodontitis-associated species, which leads to the destruction of supporting periodontal tissues and tooth loss in a susceptible host. The persistent bacterial challenge induces modifications in the permeability and ulceration of the sulcular epithelium, which facilitates the systemic translocation of periodontitis-associated bacteria into distant tissues and organs. This stimulates the secretion of pro-inflammatory molecules and a chronic activation of immune cells, contributing to a systemic pro-inflammatory status that has been linked with a higher risk of several systemic diseases, such as type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). Although periodontitis and GDM share the common feature of systemic inflammation, the molecular mechanistic link of this association has not been completely clarified. This review aims to examine the potential biological mechanisms involved in the association between periodontitis and GDM, highlighting the contribution of both diseases to systemic inflammation and the role of new molecular participants, such as extracellular vesicles and non-coding RNAs, which could act as novel molecular intercellular linkers between periodontal and placental tissues.

Estimated impact of introduction of new diagnostic criteria for gestational diabetes mellitus

BACKGROUND

Implementation of new diagnostic criteria for gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) are still a subject of debate, mostly due to concerns regarding the effects on the number of women diagnosed with GDM and the risk profile of the women newly diagnosed.

AIM

To estimate the impact of the World Health Organization (WHO) 2013 criteria compared with the WHO 1999 criteria on the incidence of gestational diabetes mellitus as well as to determine the diagnostic accuracy for detecting adverse pregnancy outcomes.

METHODS

We retrospectively analyzed a single center Dutch cohort of 3338 women undergoing a 75 g oral glucose tolerance test where the WHO 1999 criteria to diagnose GDM were clinically applied. Women were categorized into four groups: non-GDM by both criteria, GDM by WHO 1999 only (excluded from GDM), GDM by WHO 2013 only (newly diagnosed) and GDM by both criteria. We compared maternal characteristics, pregnancy outcomes and likelihood ratios for adverse pregnancy outcomes.

RESULTS

Retrospectively applying the WHO 2013 criteria increased the cohort incidence by 13.1%, from 19.3% to 32.4%. Discordant diagnoses occurred in 21.3%; 4.1% would no longer be labelled as GDM, and 17.2% were newly diagnosed. Compared to the non-GDM group, women newly diagnosed were older, had higher rates of obesity, higher diastolic blood pressure and higher rates of caesarean deliveries. Their infants were more often delivered preterm, large-for-gestational-age and were at higher risk of a 5 min Apgar score < 7. Women excluded from GDM were older and had similar pregnancy outcomes compared to the non-GDM group, except for higher rates of shoulder dystocia (4.3% vs 1.3%, P = 0.015). Positive likelihood ratios for adverse outcomes in all groups were generally low, ranging from 0.54 to 2.95.

CONCLUSION

Applying the WHO 2013 criteria would result in a substantial increase in GDM diagnoses. Newly diagnosed women are at increased risk for pregnancy adverse outcomes. This risk, however, seems to be lower than those identified by the WHO 1999 criteria. This could potentially influence the treatment effect that can be achieved in this group. Evidence on treatment effects in newly diagnosed women is urgently needed.

Gestational Diabetes: Overview with Emphasis on Medical Management

With the rising trend in obesity, the incidence of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and perinatal complications associated with the condition are also on the rise. Since the early 1900s, much knowledge has been gained about the diagnosis, implications, and management of gestational diabetes with improved outcomes for the mother and fetus. Worldwide, there is variation in the definition of GDM, methods to screen for the condition, and management options. The International Association of Diabetes in Pregnancy Study Groups has published recommendations for a one-step approach to screen pregnant women for GDM, in order to develop outcome-based criteria that can be used internationally. However, management of GDM continues to be varied, and currently several options are available for treatment of hyperglycemia during pregnancy. A review of various aspects of GDM is discussed with a focus on the medical management during pregnancy, as practiced in the United States.

Real-world evaluation of adverse pregnancy outcomes in women with gestational diabetes mellitus in the German health care system

AIMS

This study aims to estimate the incidence of adverse pregnancy outcomes in women with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) in Germany.

METHODS

Pregnant women were identified from a health claims database for the year of 2016. Three groups were defined: general population without GDM, women with GDM without treatment and women with GDM and insulin treatment. Operationalisation of outcomes was aligned with the hyperglycaemia and adverse pregnancy outcomes (HAPO) study.

RESULTS

The cohort consisted of 58,297 mother-child pairs. Of those, 7245 had a GDM diagnosis and 1407 had a GDM diagnosis with a prescription of insulin. Adverse pregnancy outcomes were higher in both GDM groups compared to the control group. Birthweight (OR 2.08 [95% CI 1.50-2.90]), primary caesarean section (OR 1.70 [95% CI 1.48-1.95]), intensive neonatal care (OR 1.25 [95% CI 1.04-1.50]), preeclampsia (OR 1.51 [95% CI 1.23-1.85]), and clinical neonatal hypoglycaemia (OR 5.32 [95% CI 4.27-6.62]) were higher in the GDM+insulin group in comparison to a control group after adjustment for potential confounders.

CONCLUSION

Most of the adverse pregnancy outcomes were moderately higher in both identified GDM groups in comparison to women without GDM. Women receiving insulin treatment are at an increased risk of most of the defined adverse pregnancy outcomes.

Diabetes risk status and physical activity in pregnancy: U.S. BRFSS 2011, 2013, 2015, 2017

BACKGROUND

Pregnant women without complications are advised to engage in physical activity (PA) to mitigate adverse outcomes. Differences may exist among pregnant women of diverging diabetes status in meeting national PA recommendations. We sought to examine differences in aerobic activity (AA) and muscle strengthening activity (MSA) by diabetes risk status (DRS) among pregnant women in the United States.

METHODS

The sample (n = 9,597) included pregnant women, age 18-44 years, who participated in the 2011, 2013, 2015, and 2017 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System. Levels of DRS include: no diabetes (ND), high risk for diabetes (HRD) due to self-reported gestational diabetes or pre-diabetes, and overt diabetes due to self-reported, clinically diagnosed diabetes (DM). Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for meeting PA recommendations were obtained. Covariates included age, race, education, household child count, alcohol consumption, and smoking status.

RESULTS

Findings revealed that on average, DM had 46.5 fewer minutes of weekly AA compared to ND. Furthermore, a significantly lower OR (0.39; CI 0.19-0.82) for meeting both recommendations was observed in DM as compared to ND after adjustment.

CONCLUSIONS

We observed that pregnant women with overt diabetes had a lower odds of engaging in PA, while those at high risk were similar in their PA engagement to ND. Future studies aimed at assessing determinants of PA behavior may help guide efforts to promote exercise in pregnant women with diabetes.

Is there an association between anxiety and depression prior to and during pregnancy and gestational diabetes? An analysis of the Born in Bradford cohort

BACKGROUND

anxiety and depression are common in women with gestational diabetes but it is not clear whether they are more likely to precede the onset of gestational diabetes or to co-occur with it. Our aims were to compare the strength of association between common mental disorders of anxiety and depression (i) before pregnancy and (ii) during pregnancy in women with and without gestational diabetes.

METHODS

the sample comprised 12,239 women with 13,539 pregnancies from the UK's Born in Bradford cohort. Gestational diabetes was diagnosed by oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT). Indicators of common mental disorders were obtained from linked primary care records. Multivariable robust Poisson and logistic regression were employed. Multiple imputation by chained equations was implemented to handle missing data. Models were adjusted for maternal age, ethnicity, education and obstetric complications. Analyses of common mental disorders during pregnancy were additionally adjusted for maternal smoking, pre-pregnancy BMI, multiple pregnancy and common mental disorders prior to pregnancy.

RESULTS

there was no evidence for an association between common mental disorders prior to pregnancy and gestational diabetes (adjusted RR 0.96; 95% CI 0.80,1.15) or between gestational diabetes and common mental disorders during pregnancy (adjusted OR 0.91; 95% CI 0.73,1.12).

LIMITATIONS

high levels of deprivation and multi-ethnic composition of the cohort may limit generalisability of these findings to other populations.

CONCLUSIONS

routine primary care records did not identify an increased risk of gestational diabetes in women with common mental disorders prior to pregnancy or of gestational diabetes in women with common mental disorders during pregnancy.

Gestational diabetes mellitus yesterday, today and tomorrow: A 13 year italian cohort study

AIMS

To describe all cases of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) managed at the Italian Hospital of San Daniele del Friuli from 2006 to 2018, after the establishment of a dedicated multidisciplinary team.

METHODS

Data on mothers, pregnancies, and newborns have been recorded since the team establishment. The associations of maternal, pregnancy, and delivery characteristics with complications of pregnancy and delivery and adverse birth outcomes were assessed.

RESULTS

894 cases of GDM were observed, representing 6.8% of all deliveries. More than 20% of women were non-Italian, 5.3% had a previous macrosomic child, 12.5% previous diabetes or GDM, 27.3% family history of diabetes. On average, women had 4 visits at the clinic; mean glycated hemoglobin was 5.3%; starting body mass index (BMI) 26.2 and weight gain 10.3 kg. Cesarean sections were 21.8%. Pre-eclampsia was the most common pregnancy complication (4.7%). 6.0% of newborns were macrosomic and there were 3 fetal deaths. Only 26.3% of women had a post-partum oral glucose tolerance test. Initial BMI, weight gain, nationality, family history of diabetes or previous diabetes-related pregnancy complications were associated with pregnancy complications or adverse outcomes.

CONCLUSIONS

We identified factors to be targeted for preventing GDM complications. Further efforts should be directed at post-partum.

Two criteria of oral glucose tolerance test to diagnose gestational diabetes mellitus

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate two different criteria, one or two cut-off values, of oral glucose tolerance test with 75g of glucose for the diagnosis of gestational diabetes mellitus.

METHODS

A cross-sectional study involving 120 records of pregnant women who received prenatal care at the service of a Brazilian university was carried out. Bivariate analysis of obstetric and perinatal outcomes was performed using the chi-square test.

RESULTS

Considering criterion I, 12.5% of patients were diagnosed with gestational diabetes mellitus. Patients were 3.57 times more likely to have a large fetus for the gestational age at birth (p=0.038). Using criterion II, gestational diabetes mellitus was diagnosed in 5.8% of patients, macrosomia was 7.73 times more likely to be found in the presence of gestational diabetes mellitus (p=0.004), and a large fetus for the gestational age at birth was 8.17 times more likely (p=0.004).

CONCLUSIONS

There was a difference in the prevalence of gestational diabetes mellitus between the two criteria analyzed. The new criterion proposed increased prevalence.

Pregnancy outcome in women with gestational diabetes - A longitudinal study of changes in demography and treatment modalities

INTRODUCTION

Gestational diabetes is on the rise and demographics are changing in many countries due to increased migration. Simultaneously, the treatment of gestational diabetes in our clinic has shifted towards metformin with substantially less insulin treatment. The aim was to study the impact of these changes on metabolic control and pregnancy outcome by comparing women diagnosed with gestational diabetes during 2012-2013 and 2016-2017.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Our universal Oral Glucose Tolerance Test screening program for gestational diabetes diagnosed 199 women with singleton pregnancies during 2012-2013 and 203 during 2016-2017. Treatment and achieved metabolic control in the two different time periods were compared. Pregnancy outcome data related to gestational diabetes were retrieved from case notes and compared between the different time periods.

RESULTS

When comparing results from 2016-2017 with 2012-2013 there was no difference in maternal weight or weight gain. There was a higher frequency of heredity (52.6 vs 35.4%; P = 0.001) and non-Scandinavian ethnicity (46.5 vs 33.8%; P = 0.011).The frequency of smoking during pregnancy was significantly lower (2.6 vs 7.7%; P = 0.023) There was an improved metabolic control as measured by median glucose in 2016-2017 compared with 2012-2013 (5.8 vs 6.2 mmol/L; P < 0.001). Insulin was less frequently used in 2016-2017 than in 2012-2013 (32.5 vs 44.7%; P = 0.012). There was a significant increase in the use of metformin (14.8 vs 0%; P < 0.001). There were no differences regarding the frequency of large-for-gestational-age infants (8.2% vs 7.3%; P = 0.762) or macrosomia (16.3 vs 15.1%; P = 0.745), median birthweight (3510 vs 3521; P = 0.879), frequency of cesarean section (28.1 vs 27.8%; P = 0.951) or Apgar scores at 10 minutes (10 [3-10] vs 10 [7-10]; P = 0.290).

CONCLUSIONS

In an increasing but changing population of gestational diabetes women in our region, with more hereditary and non-Scandinavian origins, but with fewer smokers, metabolic control has improved with maintained favorable pregnancy outcomes, with more frequent use of metformin and substantially less use of insulin treatment.

Beta-cell dysfunction and abnormal glucose metabolism among non-diabetic women with recurrent miscarriages

BACKGROUND

Subclinical beta-cell (β-cell) dysfunction is an endocrine abnormality and its association with recurrent miscarriages (RM) has not been extensively studied.

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to determine the prevalence of β-cell dysfunction and abnormal glucose metabolism [fasting blood glucose (FBG) ≥ 5.1 mmol/L] among non-diabetic women with recurrent miscarriages and to establish if there was an association between RM and β-cell dysfunction and FBG ≥ 5.1 mmol/L.

METHODOLOGY

This was a cross-sectional study involving 80 women with miscarriages at ≤ 13 weeks gestation and 80 women with normal pregnancies at ≤ 13 weeks of gestation with at least one successful live-birth and no history of miscarriage (comparison group). Interviewer-administered questionnaire was used to obtain relevant information. From each participant, FBG and fasting insulin were assayed. β-Cell function was computed. The data obtained was analysed using IBM-SPSS version 22.0.

RESULTS

A significantly higher prevalence of β-cell dysfunction and abnormal glucose metabolism were observed among non-diabetic women with RM compared to age-matched controls (38.8% vs 10.0%, P < 0.001) and (27.5% vs 6.3%, P = 0.005) respectively. The mean β-cell function of the cases was 59.0% of the controls (264.41 ± 105.13 vs 447.82 ± 181.24, P < 0.001). Mean FBG was significantly higher in the case-group compared to the controls (4.77 ± 1.14 mmol/L vs 3.58 ± 0.78 mmol/L, P < 0.001). There was a significant association between RM and FBG ≥ 5.1 mmol/L and low β-cell function (P < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

This study suggests that women with recurrent miscarriages are more likely to have impaired β-cell function and abnormal glucose metabolism (FBG ≥ 5.1 mmol/L).

Trends and predictors of gestational diabetes mellitus in Chile

OBJECTIVE

To examine the temporal trends in gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) prevalence in Chile, and to determine the main predictors of GDM.

METHODS

A secondary analysis was conducted of all birth records at Hospital Dr. Sótero del Río, Chile, from January 1, 2002, to December 31, 2015. We excluded those women with pre-existing type 2 diabetes, those with missing data, and those with unlikely data. GDM was defined as fasting glucose levels >5.55 mmol/L [>100 mg/dL] or >7.77 mmol/L [>140 mg/dL] 2 hours after glucose load in the oral glucose tolerance test. Potential predictors were selected based on prior research and ease of evaluation.

RESULTS

From the original database of 100 758 records, 86 362 women were included in the final cohort. The mean GDM prevalence was 7.6% (95% CI [confidence interval] 7.5%-7.8%), increasing from 4.4% (95% CI 4.0%-4.9%) in 2002 to 13.0% (95% CI 12.0%-13.9%) in 2015. Age, education, marital status, parity, family history of type 2 diabetes, personal history of GDM, hypertension and pre-eclampsia, alcohol consumption, smoking, and pre-gestational nutritional status performed well in the prediction of GDM.

CONCLUSION

One out of eight Chilean pregnant women of medium- to low socio-economic status were found to develop GDM. We identified a set of easy-to-capture predictors in the primary health care system that may allow for the early identification of women at high-risk for the development of GDM.

Prognostic prediction models for pregnancy complications in women with gestational diabetes: a protocol for systematic review, critical appraisal and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Gestational diabetes (GDM) is increasingly common and has significant implications during pregnancy and for the long-term health of the mother and offspring. However, it is a heterogeneous condition with inter-related factors including ethnicity, body mass index and gestational weight gain significantly modifying the absolute risk of complications at an individual level. Predicting the risk of pregnancy complications for an individual woman with GDM presents a useful adjunct to therapeutic decision-making and patient education. Diagnostic prediction models for GDM are prevalent. In contrast, prediction models for risk of complications in those with GDM are relatively novel. This study will systematically review published prognostic prediction models for pregnancy complications in women with GDM, describe their characteristics, compare performance and assess methodological quality and applicability.

METHODS

Studies will be identified by searching MEDLINE and Embase electronic databases. Title and abstract screening, full-text review and data extraction will be completed independently by two reviewers. The included studies will be systematically assessed for risk of bias and applicability using appropriate tools designed for prediction modelling studies. Extracted data will be tabulated to facilitate qualitative comparison of published prediction models. Quantitative data on predictive performance of these models will be synthesised with meta-analyses if appropriate.

DISCUSSION

This review will identify and summarise all published prognostic prediction models for pregnancy complications in women with GDM. We will compare model performance across different settings and populations with meta-analysis if appropriate. This work will guide subsequent phases in the prognosis research framework: further model development, external validation and model updating, and impact assessment. The ultimate model will estimate the absolute risk of pregnancy complications for women with GDM and will be implemented into routine care as an evidence-based GDM complication risk prediction model. It is anticipated to offer value to women and their clinicians with individualised risk assessment and may assist decision-making. Ultimately, this systematic review is an important step towards a personalised risk-stratified model-of-care for GDM to allow preventative and therapeutic interventions for the maximal benefit to women and their offspring, whilst sparing expense and harm for those at low risk.

SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION

PROSPERO registration number CRD42019115223.

Lifestyle Intervention in Danish Obese Pregnant Women With Early Gestational Diabetes Mellitus According to WHO 2013 Criteria Does Not Change Pregnancy Outcomes: Results From the LiP (Lifestyle in Pregnancy) Study

OBJECTIVE

To study effects of lifestyle intervention on metabolic and clinical outcomes in obese women fulfilling the World Health Organization (WHO) 2013 diagnostic criteria for gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) in early gestation.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

Secondary analysis of data from the Lifestyle in Pregnancy (LiP) study, a lifestyle randomized controlled trial in 304 pregnant women with BMI ≥30 kg/m². Early GDM (week 12-15) was diagnosed according to modified WHO 2013 GDM criteria: fasting venous plasma glucose ≥5.1 mmol/L and/or 2-h capillary blood glucose (CBG) ≥8.5 mmol/L (75-g oral glucose tolerance test [OGTT]). Women with treated GDM fulfilling local Danish GDM criteria (2-h CBG ≥9.0 mmol/L) (n = 16) and women with normal OGTT (n = 198) were excluded.

RESULTS

Of 90 women with early GDM, 36 received lifestyle intervention and 54 standard care. All were Caucasian, and median age was 29 years (interquartile range 27-33) and BMI 34.5 kg/m² (32.3-38.1). All baseline characteristics were similar in the lifestyle intervention and standard care groups. At gestational week 28-30, the women in the lifestyle intervention group had significantly higher fasting total cholesterol and fasting LDL. All other metabolic parameters including measurements of glucose, insulin, and HOMA of insulin resistance were similar. There were more planned cesarean sections in the lifestyle intervention group (22.2 vs. 5.6%), but all other obstetric outcomes were similar.

CONCLUSIONS

Lifestyle intervention in obese women fulfilling WHO 2013 GDM criteria in early pregnancy was not effective in improving obstetric or metabolic outcomes. Future studies should focus on interventions starting prepregnancy.

No further improvement in pregnancy-related outcomes in the offspring of mothers with pre-gestational diabetes in Bavaria, Germany, between 2001 and 2016

AIMS

To investigate whether there has been further improvement in the risk of adverse outcomes in pregnancies in women with diabetes during 2008-2016 in Bavaria, Germany.

METHODS

Using cross-sectional data on all 1716 170 deliveries in Bavarian hospitals between 2001 and 2016, we assessed the risks of stillbirth, early neonatal death, preterm delivery, large for gestational age, malformations, low Apgar score and low umbilical cord pH by maternal group with diabetes (gestational, pre-gestational, or none) separately for 2001-2007 and 2008-2016. We also investigated the associations of specific risk factors such as maternal smoking with respect to early mortality and malformations in each group with diabetes during 2008-2016.

RESULTS

No further reduction in the risk for any adverse outcome in mothers with pre-gestational diabetes and their offspring during 2008-2016 was observed. Maternal smoking, multiple delivery and substandard antenatal care were the strongest additional predictors of both early perinatal mortality and malformations for mothers with pre-gestational diabetes. The respective risks were lower and also decreased over time for mothers with gestational diabetes.

CONCLUSIONS

No significant improvement has been achieved in the management of pregnancies affected by pre-gestational diabetes during the last decade. The apparent risk reductions in women with gestational diabetes may partly be due to a change in diagnostic criteria over time. Women with pre-gestational diabetes who smoke, carry more than one child, or are not regularly seen during pregnancy, may need particular attention.

Changing environment of hyperglycemia in pregnancy: Gestational diabetes and diabetes mellitus in pregnancy

The diagnosis and treatment of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) have been in a state of flux since the World Health Organization accepted and endorsed the International Diabetes and Pregnancy Study Group's diagnostic pathway and criteria in 2013. These new diagnostic criteria identify an increasing number of women at risk of hyperglycemia in pregnancy (HGiP). Maternal hyperglycemia represents a significant risk to the mother and fetus, in both the short and long term. Controversially, metformin use for the treatment of GDM is increasing in Australia. This article identifies the multiple and varied presentations of HGiP, of which GDM is the most commonly encountered. The degree of maternal hyperglycemia experienced affects the outcomes for both the mother and neonate, and specific diagnosis determines the appropriate treatment for the pregnancy. Given the increasing incidence of women with dysglycemia and those developing HGiP, this is an important area for research and clinical attention for all health professionals.

Dietary Protein Intake, Meat Consumption, and Dairy Consumption in the Year Preceding Pregnancy and During Pregnancy and Their Associations With the Risk of Gestational Diabetes Mellitus: A Prospective Cohort Study in Southwest China

Background: Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) has become a public health problem in China. Objective: To examine the association of dietary protein intake before and during pregnancy with the risk of GDM. Design: Dietary intake before pregnancy and during the first and second trimesters of pregnancy was assessed using food frequency questionnaires in a prospective cohort of pregnant women. To screen GDM, participants underwent an OGTT test during 24-28 weeks of gestation. Cox proportional hazards were used to estimate RRs and 95% CIs for the associations between tertiles of dietary protein and the source of protein intake in different time windows with GDM status. Results: Higher intake of total protein [RR (95% CI): 1.92 (1.10-3.14), p for trend = 0.04] or animal protein [1.67 (1.19-2.93), p for trend = 0.03] in mid-pregnancy was associated with higher risk of GDM. Vegetable protein intake before or during pregnancy was not related to GDM risk (p for trend > 0.05). Moreover, in the mid-pregnancy, participants with higher meat consumption or dairy consumption had a higher risk of GDM. Conclusion: Our study indicated that higher dietary intakes of total protein and animal protein in mid-pregnancy were associated with an increased risk of GDM among pregnant Chinese women.