Pharmacotherapy for gestational diabetes

Effects of GLP-1 agonists and SGLT2 inhibitors during pregnancy and lactation on offspring outcomes: a systematic review of the evidence

Aims/hypothesis

Glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) agonists and sodium-glucose co-transporter-2 (SGLT2) inhibitors are novel drugs which have recently seen rapid uptake in the treatment of type 2 diabetes and obesity. The paucity of data regarding their safety during pregnancy and lactation causes a dilemma for the physician. The aim of the present study was to systematically review all available data on the offspring effects of GLP-1 agonists and SGLT2 inhibitors during pregnancy and lactation.

Methods

We systematically searched PubMed, clinicaltrials.gov, FDA and EMA product information on GLP-1 agonists and SGLT2 inhibitors in pregnancy and lactation from inception up to 19 April 2022 without language restrictions. We approached both the Netherlands Pharmacovigilance Centre Lareb on January 17th 2023 and the Teratology Information Service (TIS) of Switzerland on February 6th 2023. Eligible studies investigating the safety (including congenital anomalies, fetal growth, perinatal demise) in animals or humans, or reporting the degree of transfer of these drugs to the fetus, breast milk or breastfed neonate. Two reviewers independently assessed and selected studies for inclusion and subsequently resolved discrepancies by discussion.

Results

We included 39 records (n=9 theoretical; based on drug properties, n=7 human; n=23 animal, including 76 human offspring, and an unknown number of animal offspring as these numbers could not be retrieved from the FDA and EMA product information). In animal studies, GLP1-agonists were associated with reduced fetal weight and/or growth, delayed ossification and skeletal variants, usually associated with a reduction in maternal weight gain and decreased food consumption. Exendin-4 (GLP1-agonist) was not transported across the maternal-fetal placental interface. In human studies, exenatide (GLP1-agonist) showed a fetal-to-maternal peptide concentration ratio of ≤ 0.017 in ex vivo human placental perfusion in a single placenta. Liraglutide (GLP1-agonist) showed no significant maternal to fetal transfer at least 3.5 hours after maternal exposure in a human study with one subject. In animal studies, GLP-1 agonists were excreted in breast milk; human data on excretion were not available. In animal studies, SGLT2 inhibitors were generally safe during the first trimester but exposure during postnatal day 21 to 90 in juvenile rats, a period coinciding with the late second and third trimester of human renal development, caused dilatation of the renal pelvis and tubules. Human data consisted of a pharmaceutical database of inadvertent pregnancies during SGLT2 inhibitor use, which found an increase in miscarriages and congenital malformations. In animal studies SGLT2 inhibitors were excreted in breast milk and affected neonatal growth, but human data are not available.

Conclusion/interpretation

We found evidence for adverse offspring effects of GLP-1 agonists and SGLT2 inhibitors also in human studies. Our findings broadly support the advice to discontinue GLP-1 agonists and SGLT2 inhibitors during pregnancy and lactation, and also support the ongoing registration of pregnancy outcomes in pharmacological databases since the amount of available data is scarce and mostly limited to animal studies.

Registration

https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?RecordID=219877.

Effects of Probiotic Supplementation on Inflammation and Oxidative Stress for Gestational Diabetes: A Meta-Analysis Study

BACKGROUND

Probiotic supplements may benefit to reduce inflammation and oxidative stress in patients with gestational diabetes, and this meta-analysis aims to explore the impact of probiotic supplementation on inflammation and oxidative stress for gestational diabetes.

METHODS

PubMed, EMbase, Web of science, EBSCO, and Cochrane library databases were systematically searched, and we included randomized controlled trials (RCTs) assessing the effect of a probiotic supplement on inflammation and oxidative stress in patients with gestational diabetes.

RESULTS

Five RCTs were finally included in the meta-analysis. Overall, compared with control intervention for gestational diabetes, probiotic supplementation intervention showed significantly reduced CRP (MD=-1.72; 95% CI=-2.54 to -0.90; P<0.0001), IL-6 (MD=-0.42; 95% CI=-0.66 to -0.18; P=0.0005) and MDA (MD=-0.88; 95% CI=-1.10 to -0.66; P<0.00001), increased NO (MD=2.42; 95% CI=0.80 to 4.04; P=0.003) and TAC (SMD=0.86; 95% CI=0.19 to 1.54; P=0.01), but showed no obvious impact on GSH (MD=13.73; 95% CI=-35.84 to 63.31; P=0.59).

CONCLUSIONS

Probiotic supplementation is effective to alleviate inflammation and oxidative stress for gestational diabetes.

An Update on the Current and Emerging Use of Thiazolidinediones for Type 2 Diabetes

Guidelines have increasingly stressed the concept that adequate glycemic control is required to prevent or decrease the macro- and microvascular complications of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). PPAR-gamma agonists (“glitazones”) are no longer prioritized due to their effects on heart failure. However, the association between these drugs and innovative therapies could be a valuable tool to attenuate the risk factors of the metabolic syndrome. Glitazones are used for the treatment of diabetes and associated comorbidities. There is substantial scientific evidence demonstrating the effect of glitazones at a cardiometabolic level, as well as on hematological and neurological pathologies that point to their usefulness. The use of glitazones has always been controversial both for the type of patients who must take these drugs and for the side effects associated with them. Unfortunately, the recent guidelines do not include them among the preferred drugs for the treatment of hyperglycemia and rosiglitazone is out of the market in many countries due to an adverse cardiovascular risk profile. Even though real-life studies have proven otherwise, and their pleiotropic effects have been highlighted, they have been unable to achieve primacy in the choice of antihyperglycemic drugs. It would be appropriate to demonstrate the usefulness of pioglitazone and its therapeutic benefit with further cardiovascular safety studies.

A Qualitative Study: Mothers’ Experience in the Management of Gestational Diabetes Mellitus during and after Pregnancy in Yogyakarta, Indonesia

Background: Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (GDM) incidence is related to maternal and child health risks, such as pre-eclampsia, premature births, and the development of type 2 diabetes at 5-10 years after pregnancy. The adaptation process of women with GDM is complicated and requires a series of treatments and behavior changes over a short period. The psychological support of families and healthcare professionals is indispensable in achieving GDM management success.  Objectives: This research aimed to explore Indonesian mothers' experiences in GDM management and support during and after pregnancy  Methods: The design of research implemented qualitative approaches, phenomenology, and the homogenous purposive technique to recruit 12 participants. In-depth interviews were carried out with each participant using face to face. Interviews were recorded, verbatim transcribed, and analyzed thematically by Collaizi.  Results:  Five themes emerged: responses to GDM diagnosis; GDM management during pregnancy; obstacles in GDM management; support for GDM management; and post-natal self-management. Adherence to diet and exercise recommendations is difficult for some participants, although they have a good understanding of GDM. Feeling the fetus's movement of and surrendering to God become forms of psychological support and motivation in the management of gestational diabetes mellitus.  Conclusions:  The barriers and facilitators for GDM management identified here are multidimensional and may help facilitate health workers to more effectively support women with GDM in overcoming the perceived obstacles so that they can still feel a safe and comfortable during pregnancy with minimum risk.  

Development of gestational diabetes mellitus in women with periodontitis in early pregnancy: A population-based clinical study

AIM

This study aimed to determine whether periodontitis in early pregnancy and periodontal therapy during gestation affect the incidence of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) through a population-based clinical study.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Subjects without periodontitis at 1-4 weeks of gestation who met our inclusion criteria were enrolled in the non-periodontitis group. Periodontitis patients who agreed or refused to receive periodontal therapy during pregnancy were separately enrolled in the periodontitis treated or untreated group. At 12-16 weeks of gestation, gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) and venous blood were collected for analyses of bacterial species and serum inflammatory mediators, respectively. At 24-28 weeks of gestation, GDM patients were identified by oral glucose tolerance tests. The association tests were performed using Chi-squared statistics and regression analyses.

RESULTS

The complete data of 3523 pregnant women were recorded during the study period. GDM incidence among the untreated periodontitis participants (84/749, 11.21%) was significantly higher than that among the non-periodontitis participants (108/2255, 4.79%) (p < .05), and periodontal treatment during gestation reduced the incidence from 11.21% (untreated group) to 7.32% (38/519, treated group) (p < .05). Based on multiple logistic regression analyses, it was found that periodontitis in early pregnancy was associated with GDM, and three-step regression analyses showed that Porphyromonas gingivalis (P. gingivalis) and the serum TNF-α and IL-8 levels played a role in the association between untreated periodontitis and GDM. Furthermore, Pearson's correlation test indicated that the existence of P. gingivalis in GCF was positively correlated with high serum levels of these two inflammatory mediators.

CONCLUSIONS

This study establishes a connection between periodontitis in early pregnancy and GDM and demonstrates that the presence of P. gingivalis is associated with high levels of inflammatory mediators in serum, and thereby may contribute to the development of GDM. In-depth mechanistic studies are needed to further support these findings.

Different Gestational Diabetes Phenotypes: Which Insulin Regimen Fits Better?

OBJECTIVE

Maternal characteristics and OGTT values of pregnancies complicated by gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) were evaluated according to treatment strategies. The goal was to identify different maternal phenotypes in order to predict the appropriate treatment strategy.

METHODS

We conducted a retrospective study among 1,974 pregnant women followed up for GDM in a tertiary referral hospital for high-risk pregnancies (Careggi University Hospital, Florence, Italy) from 2013 to 2018. We compared nutritional therapy (NT) alone (n = 962) versus NT and insulin analogues (n = 1,012) group. Then, we focused on different insulin analogues groups: long acting (D), rapid acting (R), both D and R. We compared maternal characteristics of the three groups, detecting which factors may predict the use of rapid or long-acting insulin analogue alone versus combined therapy.

RESULTS

Among women included in the analysis, 51.3% of them needed insulin therapy for glycemic control: 61.8% D, 28.3% combined D and R, and 9.9% R alone. Age >35 years, pre-pregnancy BMI >30, family history of diabetes, previous GDM, altered fasting plasma glucose (FPG), hypothyroidism, and assisted reproductive technologies (ART) were identified as maternal variables significantly associated with the need of insulin therapy. Altered 1-h and 2-h glucose plasma glucose level at OGTT, age >35 years, and previous GDM were found as independent predicting factors for the use of combined therapy with rapid and long acting analogues for glycemic control. On the contrary, pre-pregnancy BMI <25 and normal fasting plasma glucose values at OGTT were found to be significantly associated to the use of rapid insulin analogue only.

CONCLUSION

A number of maternal and metabolic variables may be identified at the diagnosis of GDM, in order to identify different GDM phenotypes requiring a personalized treatment for glycemic control.

Recent Updates and Advances in the Use of Glycated Albumin for the Diagnosis and Monitoring of Diabetes and Renal, Cerebro- and Cardio-Metabolic Diseases

Diabetes mellitus is a heterogeneous and dysmetabolic chronic disease in which the laboratory plays a fundamental role, from diagnosis to monitoring therapy and studying complications. Early diagnosis and good glycemic control should start as early as possible to delay and prevent metabolic and cardio-vascular complications secondary to this disease. Glycated hemoglobin is currently used as the reference parameter. The accuracy of the glycated hemoglobin dosage may be compromised in subjects suffering from chronic renal failure and terminal nephropathy, affected by the reduction in the survival of erythrocytes, with consequent decrease in the time available for glucose to attach to the hemoglobin. In the presence of these renal comorbidities as well as hemoglobinopathies and pregnancy, glycated hemoglobin is not reliable. In such conditions, dosage of glycated albumin can help. Glycated albumin is not only useful for short-term diagnosis and monitoring but predicts the risk of diabetes, even in the presence of euglycemia. This protein is modified in subjects who do not yet have a glycemic alteration but, as a predictive factor, heralds the risk of diabetic disease. This review summarizes the importance of glycated albumin as a biomarker for predicting and stratifying the cardiovascular risk linked to multiorgan metabolic alterations.

The Effects of Probiotic Supplementation on Genetic and Metabolic Profiles in Patients with Gestational Diabetes Mellitus: a Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial

This study was carried out to evaluate the effects of probiotic supplementation on genetic and metabolic profiles in patients with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) who were not on oral hypoglycemic agents. This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial was conducted in 48 patients with GDM. Participants were randomly divided into two groups to intake either probiotic capsule containing Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus casei, Bifidobacterium bifidum, Lactobacillus fermentum (2 × 10⁹ CFU/g each) (n = 24) or placebo (n = 24) for 6 weeks. Probiotic intake upregulated peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (P = 0.01), transforming growth factor beta (P = 0.002) and vascular endothelial growth factor (P = 0.006), and downregulated gene expression of tumor necrosis factor alpha (P = 0.03) in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of subjects with GDM. In addition, probiotic supplementation significantly decreased fasting plasma glucose (β, - 3.43 mg/dL; 95% CI, - 6.48, - 0.38; P = 0.02), serum insulin levels (β, - 2.29 μIU/mL; 95% CI, - 3.60, - 0.99; P = 0.001), and insulin resistance (β, - 0.67; 95% CI, - 1.05, - 0.29; P = 0.001) and significantly increased insulin sensitivity (β, 0.009; 95% CI, 0.004, 0.01; P = 0.001) compared with the placebo. Additionally, consuming probiotic significantly decreased triglycerides (P = 0.02), VLDL-cholesterol (P = 0.02), and total-/HDL-cholesterol ratio (P = 0.006) and significantly increased HDL-cholesterol levels (P = 0.03) compared with the placebo. Finally, probiotic administration led to a significant reduction in plasma malondialdehyde (P < 0.001), and a significant elevation in plasma nitric oxide (P = 0.01) and total antioxidant capacity (P = 0.01) was observed compared with the placebo. Overall, probiotic supplementation for 6 weeks to patients with GDM had beneficial effects on gene expression related to insulin and inflammation, glycemic control, few lipid profiles, inflammatory markers, and oxidative stress.

Nutraceuticals and Hypertensive Disorders in Pregnancy: The Available Clinical Evidence

The aim of the present critical review is to summarize the available clinical evidence supporting the use of some dietary supplements that have been shown to lower blood pressure in hypertensive pregnant women. A systematic search strategy was carried out to identify trials in MEDLINE (National Library of Medicine, Bethesda, Maryland, MD, USA; January 1980 to September 2019) and the Cochrane Register of Controlled Trials (The Cochrane Collaboration, Oxford, UK). The terms ‘nutraceuticals’, ‘dietary supplements’, ‘pregnancy’, ‘pre-eclampsia’, ‘clinical trial’, and ‘human’ were incorporated into an electronic search strategy. The references of the identified studies and review articles were reviewed to look for additional studies of interest. We preferably selected papers that reported recent comprehensive reviews or meta-analysis, or original clinical trials of substances with blood pressure-lowering or vascular protective effect in pregnancy. There is a relative body of evidence that supports the use of calcium, vitamin D, folic acid, and resveratrol in preventing the development of hypertensive disorders in pregnancy, and evidence supporting drug treatment too. Further clinical research is advisable to identify the dosage and timing of the supplementation, the group of women that might benefit the most from this approach, and the nutraceuticals with the best cost-effectiveness and risk-benefit ratio for widespread use in clinical practice.

Advances in pharmacological treatment of type 1 diabetes during pregnancy

INTRODUCTION

In women with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM), pregnancy is associated with a potential risk of maternal, foetal and neonatal outcomes. Stringent metabolic control is required to improve these outcomes.

AREAS COVERED

In this review, the authors summarise the current evidence from studies on the pharmacological therapy and on monitoring of T1DM during pregnancy. The authors also discuss the use of new technologies to improve therapeutic management and patient compliance.

EXPERT OPINION

Pre-conception counselling is essential in T1DM to minimise pregnancy risks. Pregnancy in T1DM is always considered a high-risk pregnancy. During pregnancy, the target haemoglobin A1C (HbA_1c) is near-normal at <6%, without excessive hypoglycaemia. Strict control of pre- and post-prandial glucose is also required. Human soluble insulin, neutral protamine Hagedorn and the quick-acting insulin analogues aspart and lispro are widely used. Insulin is administered either as a basal-bolus regimen or by continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion. Careful and strict glucose monitoring is also needed during labour and delivery, including caesarean section. Moreover, the control of retinopathy, hypertension, nephropathy, hyper- and hypothyroidism is required. Post-partum, insulin requirements decrease, and less stringent glycaemic control is pursued, to avoid hypoglycaemias. Finally, breastfeeding is recommended and should be encouraged.