GCK Gene Screening and Association of GCK Variants With Gestational Diabetes in North Indian Population

Maternal diabetes negatively impacts fetal health

Diabetes is a chronic metabolic disease affecting an increasing number of people. Although diabetes has negative health outcomes for diagnosed individuals, a population at particular risk are pregnant women, as diabetes impacts not only a pregnant woman's health but that of her child. In this review, we cover the current knowledge and unanswered questions on diabetes affecting an expectant mother, focusing on maternal and fetal outcomes.

Insulin Resistance in Gestational Diabetes Mellitus and Its Association With Anthropometric Fetal Indices

Background:

In pregnant women with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), insulin resistance (IR) increases the risk of developing manifest type 2 diabetes mellitus and is associated with complications in both mother and fetus.

Objectives:

This research aimed to evaluate the associations between IR evaluated by 3 indices (namely updated homeostasis model assessment model (HOMA2), QUICKI, and McAuley’s index) and the diabetes risk factors and the fetal growth indices in Vietnamese women with GDM.

Methods:

A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted on 370 women with GDM and 40 healthy pregnant women from January 2015 to May 2019. IR was calculated by HOMA2 (HOMA2-IR), QUICKI, and McAuley’s index. Fetal anthropometric measurements were assessed via ultrasound which was performed and interpreted by ultrasound experts.

Results:

In the simple regression analysis, McAuley’s index illustrated had statistically significant correlations to the highest number of risk factors of diabetes mellitus compared with HOMA2-IR and QUICKI indices. Moreover, McAuley’s index correlated statistically significantly to the highest number of fetal ultrasound measurements factors such as including biparietal diameter (BPD) (r = −0.271, P < .001), head circumference (HC) (r = −0.225, P < .001), abdominal circumference (AC) (r = −0.214, P < .001), femur length (FL) (r = −0.231, P < .001), estimated fetal weight (EFW) (r = −0.239, P < .001) and fetal estimated age (r = −0.299, P < .001). In the multivariable analysis, the McAuley’s index contributed the greatest to AC (Standardized B of −0.656, P < .001).

Conclusion:

The McAuley’s index was significantly associated with a higher number of more risk factors for diabetes mellitus as well as fetal ultrasound sonography findings measurements than compared with HOMA2-IR and QUICKI indices.