What is an appropriate gestational weight gain for women with gestational diabetes mellitus: based on the adverse pregnancy outcomes of over 12 thousand participants?

Optimal gestational weight change associated with improved perinatal outcomes in women with gestational diabetes mellitus: a population-based study in the United States

BACKGROUND

Optimal gestational weight change (GWC) is little known among pregnant women with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM).

OBJECTIVES

This study aimed to explore the optimal GWC ranges for women with GDM and validate these ranges compared with the Institute of Medicine (IOM) guidelines.

METHODS

A population-based cohort study using natality data from the National Center for Health Statistics in the United States included 1,338,460 mother-infant pairs with GDM from 2014 to 2020. Poisson regression models were performed to identify GWC ranges (GDM targets) associated with acceptable risks (<10% increase) for a severity-weighted composite outcome including preterm birth (PTB) <37 wk, large for gestational age (LGA, birthweight >90th percentile) and small for gestational age (SGA, birthweight <10th percentile). These targets were validated in individual outcomes including PTB, LGA, SGA, hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, neonatal intensive care unit admission, and neonatal respiratory morbidity, and compared with the IOM guidelines using logistic regression models with population-attributable fractions (PAFs) calculated.

RESULTS

The severity-weighted composite outcome had a U-shaped or a J-shaped relationship with GWC across body mass index categories. The GDM targets were 14.1 to 20.3 kg, 9.0 to 17.0 kg, 4.8 to 13.8 kg, -0.8 to 10.8 kg, -2.4 to 8.2 kg, and -8.3 to 6.0 kg for underweight, normal weight, overweight, class 1 obesity, class 2 obesity, and class 3 obesity, respectively. GWC outside the GDM or the IOM targets was associated with increased adverse perinatal outcomes in validation analyses. PAFs indicated that the IOM guidelines reduced a similar or higher proportion of adverse perinatal outcomes compared with the GDM targets for women with GDM, except for those with class 2 and 3 obesity.

CONCLUSIONS

The IOM guidelines are generally applicable for women with GDM, except for women with moderate and severe obesity. The optimal GWC ranges for women with GDM and moderate to severe obesity may be lower than the IOM guidelines.

Is gestational diabetes mellitus in lean women a distinct entity warranting a modified management approach?

During pregnancy, insulin resistance and impaired insulin secretion may lead to the development of Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (GDM). Although a higher Body Mass Index (BMI) is often cited as a risk factor for the development of GDM, lean pregnant women are also at risk of developing GDM based on evidence from several studies. It is proposed that insulin deficiency (more than insulin resistance) leads to the development of GDM in women with low BMI (BMI <18.5 kg/m2). Neonates of these women are more at risk of preterm birth and small-for-gestational-age. Given this unique pathophysiology and phenotype, this entity needs a modified management approach. This article aims to raise awareness of GDM in lean women to encourage more research on this topic and create a modified management approach.

Determinants of Hypoglycemia in Premature Vietnamese Infants: A Case-Control Study

Background Premature infants are more likely to experience hypoglycemia. Early recognition and prompt therapy are essential to avoiding neurological sequelae in the future. This study aimed to identify the determinants of hypoglycemia in premature Vietnamese infants. Methodology This was a case-control study conducted at the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, The Women and Children Hospital of An Giang, Vietnam. Hypoglycemia was defined as a plasma glucose value of less than 2.6 mmol/L (47 mg/dL) after two hours postpartum. Maternal and neonatal information was collected and analyzed. Both bivariate and multiple logistic regression models were used to identify the risk factors of neonatal hypoglycemia (NH) Results A total of 65 cases and 195 controls were included in the study. Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] 3.78, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.69-8.52; P < 0.001) and excessive gestational weight gain (GWG) (AOR 2.80, 95% CI 1.12-6.98; P < 0.026) were associated with NH in the multiple logistic regression model. An observed positive interaction between gestational hypertension and GDM on NH yielded an odds ratio (OR) of 6.29 (95% CI 2.46-16.64). Conclusions GDM, excessive GWG, and the interaction between gestational hypertension and GDM were the determinants of hypoglycemia in premature infants.

Pre-pregnancy body mass index and glycated-hemoglobin with the risk of metabolic diseases in gestational diabetes: a prospective cohort study

Background

Metabolic diseases during pregnancy result in negative consequences for mothers. Pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI) and late-pregnancy glycated-hemoglobin (HbA1c) are most important factors independently affecting the risk of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). However how both affect the combined risk of other metabolic diseases in women with GDM is unclear. The study aims to investigate the influence of pre-pregnancy BMI and pregnancy glycemic levels on other gestational metabolic diseases in women with GDM.

Methods

Pregnancies with GDM from January 2015 to December 2018 in the Xi'an longitudinal mother-child cohort study (XAMC) were retrospectively enrolled. Those without other metabolic diseases by the time of oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) detection were finally recruited and divided into four groups by pre-pregnancy BMI (Underweight <18.5kg/m2; Normal weight 18.5-23.9 kg/m2; Overweight 24.0-27.9 kg/m2; Obesity ≥28.0 kg/m2, respectively) or two groups by HbA1c in late pregnancy (normal HbA1c<5.7%; high HbA1c≥5.7%). Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to identify risk factors. Interaction between pre-pregnancy BMI (reference group 18.5-23.9 kg/m2) and HbA1c (reference group <5.7%) was determined using strata-specific analysis.

Results

A total of 8928 subjects with GDM were included, 16.2% of which had a composite of metabolic diseases. The pre-pregnancy overweight and obesity, compared with normal BMI, were linked to the elevated risk of the composite of metabolic diseases, particularly pre-eclampsia (both P <0.001) and gestational hypertension (both P <0.001). Meanwhile, patients with high HbA1c had an obvious higher risk of pre-eclampsia (P< 0.001) and gestational hypertension (P= 0.005) compared to those with normal HbA1c. In addition, there were significant interactions between pre-pregnancy BMI and HbA1c (P< 0.001). The OR of pre-pregnancy BMI≥ 28 kg/m2 and HbA1c≥ 5.7% was 4.46 (95% CI: 2.85, 6.99; P< 0.001). The risk of other metabolic diseases, except for pre-eclampsia (P= 0.003), was comparable between the two groups of patients with different HbA1c levels at normal pre-pregnancy BMI group. However, that was remarkably elevated in obese patients (P= 0.004), particularly the risk of gestational hypertension (P= 0.004).

Conclusion

Pre-pregnancy overweight/obesity and late-pregnancy high HbA1c increased the risk of other gestational metabolic diseases of women with GDM. Monitoring and controlling late-pregnancy HbA1c was effective in reducing metabolic diseases, particularly in those who were overweight/obese before conception.

Dose-Response Relationship between Gestational Weight Gain and Neonatal Birthweight in Chinese Women with Excess Weight/Obesity and Gestational Diabetes Mellitus

Total gestational weight gain (GWG) is identified as a strong and potentially controllable predictor of long-term health outcomes in women with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and infants. When the total GWG of women with excess weight/obesity and GDM does not exceed the Institute of Medicine (IOM) suggested range, neonatal birthweight outcomes may be favorable, but the evidence is limited. Therefore, the objective of this study was to evaluate the dose-response relationship between increased total GWG and the risk of neonatal birthweight in Chinese women with excess weight/obesity and GDM. This study obtained electronic medical records (EMR) from the hospital information system (HIS) of the Chongqing Health Center for Women and Children between July 2017, and June 2020. A retrospective study analyzed the effect of the total GWG of women with excess weight/obesity and GDM on neonatal birthweight. The dose-response relationship between total GWG and neonatal birthweight was studied using a generalized linear model and embedded restricted cubic splines (RCS). The average age of all women with GDM was 31.99 ± 4.47 years, and 27.61% were advanced maternal age (≥35 years). The total GWG among women with excess weight and obesity and GDM greater than the IOM recommendations were found in 42.96% and 58.62% of cases, respectively. Total GWG in women with excess weight and excessing the IOM recommended range is a risk factor for large gestational age (LGA) [adjusted odds ratio (aOR) 0.1.47, 1.08-2.01] and macrosomia (aOR 1.55, 1.04-2.31). In the obesity above group, excessive weight gain increased the risk of LGA (aOR 2.92, 1.33-6.41) and macrosomia (aOR 2.83, 1.03-7.72). We used an RCS to examine pregnant women with excess weight and GDM and discovered a linear dose-response relationship between total GWG and LGA/macrosomia. In women with excess weight and obesity, increases in total GWG above the lowest end of the IOM recommendations range (7 kg and 5 kg) were associated with an increased risk of LGA and macrosomia. Therefore, research is urgently needed to support maternal and newborn health to provide recommendations for the ideal weight increase in women with excess weight/obesity and GDM.

Effect of Gestational Weight Gain during the First Half of Pregnancy on the Incidence of GDM, Results from a Pregnant Cohort in Northern Greece

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of gestational weight gain (GWG) up to 23⁺⁶ weeks of gestation on the incidence of Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (GDM). A pregnant cohort of 5948 women in Northern Greece was recruited. Anthropometric features before and during pregnancy were recorded, the GWG by 23⁺⁶ weeks was calculated and a Generalized Linear Regression Model (GLM) with subgroup analyses based on weight status were computed. GDM was diagnosed in 5.5% of women. GLM results showed that GDM likelihood increased with maternal age (MA) and pre-pregnancy BMI (aOR: 1.08, 95%CI: [1.06, 1.11] and aOR: 1.09, 95%CI: [1.09, 1.11], respectively). Ιn the normal pre-pregnancy weight group, when the extra weight gain was >8 kgs, the odds of GDM increased (OR: 2.13, 95%CI: [0.98, 4.21], p = 0.03). Women with pre-pregnancy level 2 clinical obesity (OB2 pre) (BMI > 35 and <40 kg/m²) that shifted to OB3 category (BMI ≥ 40 kg/m²) had an increased GDM likelihood (OR: 4.85, 95%CI: [1.50, 15.95]). Women of higher MA may require stricter monitoring for GDM from early pregnancy, while in obese women, recommended GWG may need to be re-evaluated, since refraining from any weight gain may have a preventive effect for GDM.