Presence of GAD antibodies during gestational diabetes mellitus predicts type 1 diabetes

The Prognosis of Glutamic Acid Decarboxylase Antibodies in Women With Hyperglycemia in Pregnancy

CONTEXT

We recently reported that the presence of glutamic acid decarboxylase antibodies (GADA) was not associated with large-for-gestational-age infants in women with hyperglycemia in pregnancy (HIP).

OBJECTIVE

We explored the association between the presence of GADA and other HIP-related adverse pregnancy outcomes.

METHODS

This observational prospective study, conducted at a university hospital in a suburb of Paris, France, included 1182 consecutive women with HIP measured for GADA at HIP care initiation between 2012 and 2017. Post hoc analyses for outcomes included gestational weight gain, insulin therapy, cesarean delivery, hypertensive disorders, small-for-gestational-age infant, prematurity, and neonatal hypoglycemia.

RESULTS

Of the 1182 women studied, 87 (7.4%) had positive (≥ 1 IU/mL) GADA. Although socioeconomic, clinical, and biological characteristics were similar across women in the positive and negative GADA groups, higher fasting plasma glucose values during early HIP screening were observed in the former (5.5 ± 1.5 vs 5.2 ± 0.7 mmol/L respectively, P < .001). At HIP care initiation, fructosamine levels were higher in women with positive GADA (208 ± 23 vs 200 ± 18 µmol/L; P < .05). In the homeostatic model assessment, insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) and beta secretion (HOMA-B) rates were similar in both groups. Gestational weight gain and the rates of all adverse outcomes were similar in both groups except for cesarean delivery (18.4 and 27.3% for positive and negative GADA, respectively; adjusted odds ratio 0.49 [95% CI, 0.26-0.92], P = .026).

CONCLUSION

Universal measurement of GADA in women with HIP highlighted that 7.4% had positive GADA. No association was observed between GADA and HIP-related adverse pregnancy outcomes, except a lower risk of cesarean delivery.

Autoantibodies predict type 1 diabetes after gestational diabetes - a 23-year cohort study

Objective

To study the predictive value of autoantibodies for type 1 (T1DM) and type 2 (T2DM) diabetes morbidity after gestational diabetes (GDM) in a 23-year follow-up study.

Design

Prospective population-based cohort study.

Methods

We studied 391 women with GDM, and 391 age- and parity-matched controls, who delivered in 1984-1994. Four autoantibodies were analysed in first-trimester blood samples: islet cell autoantibodies (ICAs), glutamic acid decarboxylase autoantibodies (GADAs), insulin autoantibodies (IAAs) and insulinoma-associated antigen-2 autoantibodies (IA-2As). Two follow-up questionnaires (1995-1996, 2012-2013) were sent to assess development of T1DM and T2DM. Predictive value of autoantibodies and clinical factors were analysed by conditional linear regression and ROC analyses.

Results

Single autoantibody positivity was detected in 12% (41/342) of the GDM cohort and in 2.3% (8/353) of the control cohort. In the GDM cohort, 2.6% (9/342) tested positive for two autoantibodies and 2.3% (8/342) for three autoantibodies, whereas only one subject in the control cohort had two autoantibodies. ICA positivity was found in 12.5% of the cases, followed by GADA (6.0%), IA-2A (4.9%) and IAA (1.2%). In the control cohort, GADA positivity was found in 1.4%, IA-2A in 0.8%, IAA in 0.6%, and ICA in 0.3% of the subjects. Detection of ICA, GADA and/or IA-2A autoantibodies decreased T1DM-free survival time and time to diagnosis. All subjects with three positive autoantibodies developed T1DM within seven years from the GDM pregnancy. Development of T2DM after GDM occurred independent of autoantibody positivity.

Conclusion

Development of T1DM can be reliably predicted with GADA and ICA autoantibodies during early pregnancy.

Pregnancy and diabetic ketoacidosis: fetal jeopardy and windows of opportunity

Background

Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) during pregnancy poses significant risks to both the mother and fetus, with an increased risk of fetal demise. Although more prevalent in women with Type I diabetes (T1D); those with Type 2 diabetes (T2D) and gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) can also develop DKA. A lack of information about DKA during pregnancy exists worldwide, including in South Africa.

Objective

This study examined the characteristics and outcomes associated with DKA during pregnancy.

Methods

The study took place between 1 April 2020 and 1 October 2022. Pregnant women with DKA, admitted to Tygerberg Hospital's Obstetric Critical Care Unit (OCCU) were included. Maternal characteristics, precipitants of DKA, adverse events during treatment, and maternal-fetal outcomes were examined.

Results

There were 54 episodes of DKA among 47 women. Most DKA's were mild and occurred in the third trimester. Pregestational diabetes dominated (31/47; 60%), with 47% having T1D and 94% requiring insulin. Seven women (7/47, 15%; T2D:6, T1D:1) had two episodes of DKA during the same pregnancy. Most women (32/47; 68%) were either overweight or obese. Yet, despite the T2D phenotype, biomarkers indicated that auto-immune diabetes was prevalent among women without any prior history of T1D (6/21; 29%). Twelve women (26%) developed gestational hypertension during pregnancy, and 17 (36%) pre-eclampsia. Precipitating causes of DKA included infection (14/54; 26%), insulin disruption (14/54; 26%) and betamethasone administration (10/54; 19%). More than half of the episodes of DKA involved hypokalemia (35/54, 65%) that was associated with fetal death (P=0.042) and hypoglycemia (28/54, 52%). Preterm birth (<37 weeks' gestation) occurred in 85% of women. No maternal deaths were recorded. A high fetal mortality rate (13/47; 28%) that included 11 spontaneous intrauterine deaths and two medical terminations, was observed.

Conclusion

Women with DKA have a high risk of fetal mortality as well as undiagnosed auto-immune diabetes. There is a strong link between maternal hypokalemia and fetal loss, suggesting an opportunity to address management gaps in pregnant women with DKA.

Unexpected case of postnatal pancreatitis: first presentation of autoimmune diabetes

Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is defined as the first onset of glucose intolerance in pregnancy without prior known diabetes. While it is commonly associated with metabolic risk factors such as obesity and hypertension, a small percentage of women with GDM have underlying autoimmune causes, with presence of islet-cell antibodies resulting in autoimmune-mediated destruction of the pancreas. We present a case of idiopathic postpartum pancreatitis precipitating fulminant diabetic ketoacidosis in a patient with otherwise well-controlled GDM during pregnancy, and subsequent findings of positive anti-glutamic acid decarboxylase antibody. This is the first presentation of autoimmune diabetes diagnosed postnatally in a woman who has no previous medical or family history.

Common single-nucleotide polymorphisms combined with a genetic risk score provide new insights regarding the etiology of gestational diabetes mellitus

AIMS

Few studies have constructed a genetic risk score (GRS) to predict the risk of gestaional diabetes mellitus (GDM). We tested the hypothesis that single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) confirmed for diabetes and obesity and the GRS are associated with GDM.

METHODS

We conducted a case-control study comprising 971 GDM cases and 1682 controls from the University of Hong Kong Shenzhen Hospital. A total of 1448 SNPs reported with type 2 diabetes (T2D), type 1 diabetes (T1D), and obesity were selected and the GRS based on SNPs associated with GDM was created.

RESULTS

We confirmed that rs10830963 (OR = 1.41,95% CI = 1.25, 1.59) in MTNR1B and rs2206734 (OR = 1.38, 95% CI = 1.22, 1.55) in CDKAL1 were strongly associated with the risk of GDM. Compared with participants with GRS based on T2D SNPs in the low tertile, the ORs of GDM across increasing GRS tertiles were 1.63 (95% CI 1.29, 2.06) and 2.72 (95% CI 2.18, 3.38) in the middle and high tertile, respectively. The positive associations between the GRS and the risk of GDM were also observed in GRS based on obesity/waist-to-hip ratio (WHR)/body mass index (BMI) SNPs. The resulting GRS for each allele increase was significantly associated with higher glycemic indices and lower HOMA-B values for GRS based on T2D SNPs, but not for GRS based on T1D SNPs and GRS based on obesity/WHR/BMI SNPs.

CONCLUSION

These findings indicate that GDM may share a common genetic background with T2D and obesity and that SNPs associated with insulin secretion defects have a vital role in the development of GDM.

Hyperglycemia First Detected in Pregnancy in South Africa: Facts, Gaps, and Opportunities

This review contextualizes hyperglycemia in pregnancy from a South-African perspective. It aims to create awareness of the importance of hyperglycemia in pregnancy in low-middle-income countries. We address unanswered questions to guide future research on sub-Saharan African women with hyperglycemia first detected in pregnancy (HFDP). South African women of childbearing age have the highest prevalence of obesity in sub-Saharan Africa. They are predisposed to Type 2 diabetes (T2DM), the leading cause of death in South African women. T2DM remains undiagnosed in many African countries, with two-thirds of people living with diabetes unaware. With the South African health policy's increased focus on improving antenatal care, women often gain access to screening for non-communicable diseases for the first time in pregnancy. While screening practices and diagnostic criteria for gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) differ amongst geographical areas in South Africa (SA), hyperglycemia of varying degrees is often first detected in pregnancy. This is often erroneously ascribed to GDM, irrespective of the degree of hyperglycemia and not overt diabetes. T2DM and GDM convey a graded increased risk for the mother and fetus during and after pregnancy, with cardiometabolic risk accumulating across the lifespan. Resource limitations and high patient burden have hampered the opportunity to implement accessible preventative care in young women at increased risk of developing T2DM in the broader public health system in SA. All women with HFDP, including those with true GDM, should be followed and undergo glucose assessment postpartum. In SA, studies conducted early postpartum have noted persistent hyperglycemia in a third of women after GDM. Interpregnancy care is advantageous and may attain a favourable metabolic legacy in these young women, but the yield of return following delivery is suboptimal. We review the current best evidence regarding HFDP and contextualize the applicability in SA and other African or low-middle-income countries. The review identifies gaps and shares pragmatic solutions regarding clinical factors that may improve awareness, identification, diagnosis, and management of women with HFDP.

Plasma cytokines during pregnancy provide insight into the risk of diabetes in the gestational diabetes risk group

Aims/Introduction

Gestational diabetes (GDM) is characterized by low‐grade systemic inflammation, which manifests as changes in the levels of cytokines in the blood. We aimed to investigate plasma immune mediators during gestational weeks 23–28 in 213 women at risk for GDM, and to find associations between GDM and its complications.

Materials and Methods

We quantified the levels of adipokines: adiponectin, leptin, plasminogen activator inhibitor‐1 and resistin; chemokines: C‐C motif chemokine ligand 2 (CCL2), CCL4, C‐X‐C motif chemokine ligand 8 (CXCL8) and CXCL10; and cytokines: granulocyte‐macrophage colony‐stimulating factor, interferon‐γ, interleukin (IL)‐1β, soluble (s)IL‐1RI, IL‐2, sIL‐2Ra, IL‐4, IL‐5, IL‐6, IL‐7, IL‐10, IL‐12(p70), IL‐13, IL‐15, IL‐17A, IL‐17F, IL‐21, IL‐22, IL‐23, IL‐27, transforming growth factor (TGF)‐β1, TGF‐β2, TGF‐β3, tumor necrosis factor‐α and soluble tumor necrosis factor receptor 2 using the Milliplex®MAP Magnetic Bead assay on Luminex®200™, and compared the results with clinical data from pregnancy and post‐partum follow up.

Results

Lower levels of adiponectin and higher levels of CCL2 (Wilcoxon test, P = 3.4E‐03 and P = 0.03, respectively) were found in women with GDM. IL‐27 levels were associated with lower odds of GDM (adjusted logistic regression 0.90, P = 2.4E‐03), and showed a risk association with glutamic acid decarboxylase autoantibody positivity (adjusted odds ratio 1.13, P = 2.8E‐03). Similarly, higher IL‐22 levels increased the odds of glutamic acid decarboxylase autoantibody positivity (adjusted odds ratio 4.23, P = 0.04). TGF‐β1 was associated with post‐partum fasting glucose levels, and CCL4 with post‐partum C‐peptide levels (linear regression, P = 0.04 and P = 0.01, respectively). Women who developed pregnancy complications had higher levels of CXCL10 and CCL4 (linear regression, P = 7.0E‐04 and P = 0.01, respectively).

Conclusions

Plasma adiponectin and CCL2 concentrations distinguish women with GDM. IL‐27 and IL‐22 levels might select women with an autoimmune reaction, whereas increased TGF‐β1 and CCL4 are associated with post‐partum glucose and insulin metabolism.

Type 1 diabetes-related autoimmune antibodies in women with gestational diabetes mellitus and the long-term risk for glucose intolerance

AIMS

To characterize women with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) positive for type 1 diabetes-related autoimmune antibodies (T1D-related autoantibodies) in pregnancy and to evaluate their risk for long-term glucose intolerance.

METHODS

In a multi-centric prospective cohort study with 1843 women receiving universal screening for GDM with a 75 g oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT), autoantibodies were measured in women with GDM: insulin autoantibodies (IAA), islet cell antibodies (ICA), insulinoma-associated protein-2 antibodies (IA-2A) and glutamic acid decarboxylase antibodies (GADA). Long-term follow-up ( ± 4.6 years after delivery) with a 75 g OGTT and re-measurement of autoantibodies was done in women with a history of GDM and autoantibody positivity in pregnancy.

RESULTS

Of all women with GDM (231), 80.5% (186) received autoantibody measurement at a mean of 26.2 weeks in pregnancy, of which 8.1% (15) had one positive antibody (seven with IAA, two with ICA, four with IA-2A and two with GADA). Characteristics in pregnancy were similar but compared to women without autoantibodies, women with autoantibodies had more often gestational hypertension [33.3% (5) vs. 1.7% (3), p<0.001] and more often neonatal hypoglycemia [40.0% (6) vs. 12.5% (19), p=0.012]. Among 14 of the 15 autoantibody positive women with an early postpartum OGTT, two had impaired fasting glucose (IFG). Of the 12 women with long-term follow-up data, four tested again positive for T1D-related autoantibodies (three positive for IA-2A and one positive for ICA and IAA). Five women were glucose intolerant at the long-term follow-up of which two had IA-2A (one had IFG and one had T1D) and three without autoantibodies. There were no significant differences in long-term characteristics between women with and without autoantibodies postpartum.

CONCLUSIONS

Systematic screening for T1D-related autoantibodies in GDM does not seem warranted since the low positivity rate for autoantibodies in pregnancy and postpartum. At 4.6 years postpartum, five out of 12 women were glucose intolerant but only two still had autoantibodies. In women with clinically significant increased autoantibody levels during pregnancy, postpartum autoantibody re-measurement seems useful since the high risk for further increase of autoantibody levels.

A case of newly diagnosed autoimmune diabetes in pregnancy presenting after acute onset of diabetic ketoacidosis

Objectives

We present a case of immune-mediated diabetes mellitus, diagnosed in pregnancy upon presentation with diabetic ketoacidosis, found to have normal glucose control postpartum.

Case presentation

A 28-year-old medically uncomplicated G1P0 presented in diabetic ketoacidosis at 28.2 weeks gestation. Workup for pancreatic autoantibodies revealed indeterminate anti-islet cell antibodies and positive anti-glutamic acid antibodies. She was stabilized with intravenous fluids and insulin, and transitioned to long and short acting subcutaneous insulin. Her insulin requirements decreased over the course of her pregnancy. Spontaneous vaginal delivery occurred at 37 weeks. Her postpartum glucose control was normal without re-initiation of insulin.

Conclusions

The diagnosis of diabetic ketoacidosis during pregnancy should prompt further investigation into an underlying diagnosis of immune mediated diabetes. These patients should be followed closely in the postpartum period.

Early Screening for Gestational Diabetes Using IADPSG Criteria May Be a Useful Predictor for Congenital Anomalies: Preliminary Data from a High-Risk Population

Background: Our aim was to investigate whether the International Association of the Diabetes and Pregnancy Study Groups (IADPSG) glycemic thresholds used for detecting hyperglycemia in pregnancy can be predictive for malformations in women with hyperglycemia detected in early pregnancy. Methods: a single-center, retrospective observational trial of 125 mother-infant pairs from singleton pregnancies with hyperglycemia according to the IADPSG criteria diagnosed at the gestational age below 16 weeks. Glucose values obtained from 75-g OGTT (oral glucose tolerance test) were investigated as predictors for congenital malformations in newborns. Results: Characteristics of the cohort: maternal age: 31.5 ± 5.2, pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI) ≥ 30 kg/m²: 42.0%, gestational age at diagnosis (weeks): 12.0 ± 4.0, and newborns with congenital malformations: 8.8%. Fasting blood glycemia (FBG) and HbA1c (Haemoglobin A1c) at baseline significantly predicted the outcome (expB: 1.06 (1.02–1.1), p = 0.007 and expB: 2.05 (1.24–3.38), p = 0.005, respectively). Both the fasting blood glucose (FBG) value of 5.1 mmol/dL (diagnostic for gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM)) and 5.5 mmol/dL (upper limit for normoglycemia in the general population) significantly increased the likelihood ratio (LR) for fetal malformations: 1.3 (1.1; 1.4) and 1.5 (1.0; 2.4), respectively. Conclusions: (1) Fasting glycemia diagnostic for GDM measured in early pregnancy is associated with a significantly elevated risk for congenital malformations. (2) Our data suggest that women at elevated risks of GDM/diabetes in pregnancy (DiP) should have their fasting blood glucose assessed before becoming pregnant, and the optimization of glycemic control should be considered if the FBG exceeds 5.1 mmol/dL.

The Incidence of Glutamic Acid Decarboxylase Autoantibodies and its Association With Clinical Features in Pregnant Women With Gestational Diabetes Mellitus

Introduction: The association between the incidence of glutamic acid decarboxylase antibodies(GADAs) and risk of diabetes in pregnant women is controversial. Here, our aim was to investigate the incidence and clinical relevance of GADA and its association with development of post-delivery diabetes in women with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM).Methods: This cohort study was conducted in Torbat–e Heydarieh (Khorasan Razavi, Iran) from October 2015 to March 2017. A total of 147 pregnant women with GDM were included in case group. The control group consisted of 147 healthy controls. A GAD diagnostic kit (Diametra Co.,Italy) was used for diagnosis of GADA. The history of insulin therapy and the development of diabetes one year after delivery were investigated.Results: Of 147 pregnant women with GDM, 9 (6.1%) had GADA in their sera. 14.3% (21 out of 147) of women with GDM had history of insulin therapy. 33.3% (7 of 21) of women who had received insulin developed diabetes one year after delivery. Type 1 and type 2 diabetes were observed in, respectively, 1 (0.7%) and 7 (4.8%) of women with GDM at one year after delivery.At one year after delivery, no women in GADA negative women was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. However, type 2 diabetes was observed in 2.9% of GADA negative pregnant women.Type 1 and type 2 diabetes were also noticed in, respectively, 11.1% and 33.3% of GADA positive mothers at one year after delivery.Conclusion: The prevalence of GADA was 6.1% in diabetic pregnant women. The GADA positivity and history of insulin therapy during pregnancy were significant risk factors for diabetes at one year after delivery. In addition, development of type 1 diabetes was higher in GADA positive pregnant women with GDM than GADA negative women.

Testing for type 1 diabetes autoantibodies in gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM): is it clinically useful?

Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (GDM) is the most common metabolic disorder in pregnancy, and it is associated with increased risk of morbidity in maternal-fetal outcomes. GDM is also associated with a higher risk to develop diabetes in the future. Diabetes-related autoantibodies (AABs) have been detected in a small percentage (usually less than 10%) of women with gestational diabetes. The prevalence in gestational diabetes of these autoimmune markers of type 1 diabetes (T1D) has been assessed in many studies, together with the risk of progression of AABs-positive GDM towards impaired glucose regulation (IFG or IGT) and overt diabetes after pregancy. The question whether it is necessary to test for T1D autoantibodies in all pregnancies with GDM is still debated. Here we examine the epidemiology of T1D autoantibodies in GDM, their clinical relevance in term of future risk of diabetes or impaired glucose regulation and in term of maternal-fetal outcomes, and discuss when it may be the most appropriate time to search for T1D autoantibodies in women with gestational diabetes.

Isolated effect of maternal thyroid-stimulating hormone, free thyroxine and antithyroid peroxidase antibodies in early pregnancy on gestational diabetes mellitus: a birth cohort study in China

This article aims to understand the isolated effect of maternal thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), free thyroxine (FT₄) and antithyroid peroxidase antibodies (TPOAb) in early pregnancy on gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). Based on a birth cohort, pregnant women presented to maternity hospitals for the first antenatal care from Nov 2008 to Oct 2010 were invited to participate in the study. A self-administered questionnaire was asked to complete to collect data on socio-economic variables, previous adverse pregnancy outcomes, method of conception, previous endocrinic and metabolic diseases, and pregnancy-related anxiety in 1^st trimester of the index pregnancy. Pre-pregnancy BMI was measured. Serum samples were collected, and TSH, FT₄ and TPOAb were assayed. GDM was confirmed from medical records screened on 24-28 gestational weeks by using oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT). The prevalence of isolated subclinical hypothyroidism, hypothyroidemia and positive TPOAb in early pregnancy was 2.0%, 2.0% and 12.8%. Prevalence of GDM in women with the isolated sub-clinical hypothyroidism, hypothyroxinemia and positive TPOAb was 2.9%, 2.8% and 3.1%, respectively, which were all higher than that detected in euthyroidism women (1.2%). Women with isolated positive TPOAb had significantly higher TSH and lower FT₄ level compared with euthyroidism women. It was found that isolated positive TPOAb in early pregnancy increased the risk of GDM, adjusted RR and 95%CI being 2.541(1.037-6.226). No significant relationships were identified between isolated sub-clinical hypothyroidism or hypothyroxinemia with GDM. In conclusion, isolated thyroid autoimmunity, represented by positive TPOAb, in early pregnancy were associated with GDM independent of TSH and FT₄.

Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus Diagnosed during Follow-up of Gestational Diabetes Mellitus in the Early Postpartum Period

A 27-year-old woman with a history of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) developed type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1D) in the early postpartum period. Women with a history of GDM are at an increased risk of developing T1D, which is rarer than type 2 diabetes mellitus. A postpartum follow-up 75-g oral glucose tolerance test and the measurement of glutamic acid decarboxylase autoantibodies aided in the early detection of T1D in this patient. Careful attention should be paid to women with a history of GDM who exhibit clinical features suggestive of future development of T1D.

Most Women with Previous Gestational Diabetes Mellitus Have Impaired Glucose Metabolism after a Decade

Of 1324 women diagnosed with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) in Sweden, 25% reported >10 years after the delivery that they had developed diabetes mellitus. We assessed the long-term risk of all glucose metabolic abnormalities in a subgroup of these women. Women (n = 51) previously diagnosed with GDM by capillary blood glucose ≥9.0 mmol/L (≈plasma glucose ≥10.0 mmol/L) after a 2 h 75 g oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) were included. All underwent a clinical and biochemical evaluation, including a second 2 h 75 g OGTT. Individuals with known type 1 diabetes were excluded. At the follow-up, 12/51 (24%) reported previously diagnosed type 2 diabetes. Another four cases were diagnosed after the second OGTT, increasing the prevalence to 16/51 cases (31%). Impaired fasting plasma glucose (IFG) was diagnosed in 13/51 women and impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) in 10/51 women, leaving only 12 women (24%) with normal glucose tolerance. In addition, 2/51 women had high levels of glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD) antibodies; of these, one woman classified as type 2 diabetes was reclassified as type 1 diabetes, and the second GAD-positive woman was diagnosed with IGT. Of the women diagnosed with GDM by a 2 h 75 g OGTT, a large proportion had impaired glucose metabolism a decade later, including type 1 and type 2 diabetes.

Presence of diabetes-specific autoimmunity in women with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) predicts impaired glucose regulation at follow-up

PURPOSE

Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is the most frequent complication of pregnancy; around 10% of GDM cases may be determined by autoimmunity, and our aims were to establish the role of autoimmunity in a population of Sardinian women affected by GDM, to find predictive factors for autoimmune GDM, and to determine type 1 diabetes (T1D) auto-antibodies (Aabs) together with glucose tolerance after a mean 21.2 months of follow-up.

METHODS

We consecutively recruited 143 women affected by GDM and 60 without GDM; clinical data and pregnancy outcomes were obtained by outpatient visit or phone recall. T1D auto-antibodies GADA, IA2-A, IAA, ZnT8-A were measured in the whole population at baseline, and in the Aab-positive women at follow-up.

RESULTS

The overall prevalence of autoimmunity was 6.4% (13/203). No significant difference was found in the prevalence of auto-antibodies between GDM (5.6%) and control (8.3%) women, neither in antibody titres. Highest titres for GADA and ZnT8-A were observed in the control group; no phenotypic factors were predictive for autoimmune GDM. Diabetes-related autoantibodies were still present in all the GDM women at follow-up, and their presence was associated with a 2.65 (p < 0.0016) relative risk (RR) of glucose impairment.

CONCLUSION

We observed a low prevalence (5.6%) of diabetes-related autoimmunity in our GDM cohort, consistent with the prevalence reported in previous studies. It was not possible to uncover features predictive of autoimmune GDM. However, given the significant risk of a persistent impaired glycemic regulation at follow-up, it is advisable to control for glucose tolerance in GDM women with diabetes-related autoimmunity.

Neonatal delivery weight and risk of future maternal diabetes

OBJECTIVE

To investigate associations between neonatal delivery weight and future risk of maternal type 1 or type 2 diabetes.

METHODS

Data included in the Swedish Medical Birth Registry and Swedish National Diabetes Registry were merged to include all women born during 1930-1989; patients with pre-existing diabetes or gestational diabetes were excluded. Cox regression analyses were performed to identify associations between the neonatal delivery weight from the most recent pregnancy and later occurrence of diabetes.

RESULTS

There were 1 873 440 patients included in the analyses. An increased risk of type 1 (hazard ratio 3.60, 95% confidence interval [CI] 3.23-4.01) or type 2 diabetes (hazard ratio 2.77, 95% CI 2.68-2.87) was observed among patients who had a large for gestational age neonate compared with patients who had neonates within one standard definition of the mean weight for gestational age; the odds of developing type 1 (odds ratio 10.27, 95% CI 7.37-14.31) or type 2 diabetes (odds ratio 8.50, 95% CI 6.01-12.02) within 1 year of delivery was also increased compared with patients who had a neonate within one standard deviation of the mean weight for gestational age.

CONCLUSIONS

Delivering a large for gestational age neonate was a potent risk factor for the later development of maternal type 1 or type 2 diabetes.

Clinical Recommendations for the Use of Islet Cell Autoantibodies to Distinguish Autoimmune and Non-Autoimmune Gestational Diabetes

Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is defined as carbohydrate intolerance that begins or is first recognized during pregnancy. The prevalence of GDM is highly variable, depending on the population studied, and reflects the underlying pattern of diabetes in the population. GDM manifests by the second half of pregnancy and disappears following delivery in most cases, but is associated with the risk of subsequent diabetes development. Normal pregnancy induces carbohydrate intolerance to favor the availability of nutrients for the fetus, which is compensated by increased insulin secretion from the maternal pancreas. Pregnancy shares similarities with adiposity in metabolism to save energy, and both conditions favor the development of insulin resistance (IR) and low-grade inflammation. A highly complicated network of modified regulatory mechanisms may primarily affect carbohydrate metabolism by promoting autoimmune reactions to pancreatic β cells and affecting insulin function. As a result, diabetes development during pregnancy is facilitated. Depending on a pregnant woman's genetic susceptibility to diabetes, autoimmune mechanisms or IR are fundamental to the development autoimmune or non-autoimmune GDM, respectively. Pregnancy may facilitate the identification of women at risk of developing diabetes later in life; autoimmune and non-autoimmune GDM may be early markers of the risk of future type 1 and type 2 diabetes, respectively. The most convenient and efficient way to discriminate GDM types is to assess pancreatic β-cell autoantibodies along with diagnosing diabetes in pregnancy.

Postpartum development of type 1 diabetes in Asian Indian women with gestational diabetes

AIM

To study the postpartum conversion of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) to different types of diabetes among Asian Indian women.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Using data from electronic medical records, 418 women with GDM seen at a tertiary diabetes care center for diabetes in Chennai in South India between 1991 and 2014 were evaluated for development of diabetes postpartum.

RESULTS

Of the 418 GDM women followed up postpartum, 388 progressed to diabetes. Of these 359 (92.5%) developed type 2 diabetes (T2DM) and 29 women (7.5%) developed type 1 diabetes (T1DM). The median time to development of T1DM was 2 years (interquartile range 2 [IQR]) while for T2DM it was 5 years (IQR 6). Women who developed T1DM had significantly lower mean body mass index (BMI) (20.4 ± 2.8 vs. 27.5 ± 4.4 kg/m², P = 0.001), and higher fasting plasma glucose (222 ± 105 vs. 165 ± 62 mg/dl P = 0.008) and glycated hemoglobin levels (10.2 ± 2.7 vs. 8.5 ± 2.1% P < 0.001) compared to those who developed T2DM. Glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD) autoantibodies were present in 24/29 (82.7%) of women who developed T1DM.

CONCLUSION

A small but significant proportion of women with GDM progress to T1DM postpartum. Measurement of GAD antibodies in leaner women with more severe diabetes could help to identify women who are likely to develop T1DM and thus prevent their presentation with acute hyperglycemic emergencies after delivery.

The prevalence and predictive value of the SLC30A8 R325W polymorphism and zinc transporter 8 autoantibodies in the development of GDM and postpartum type 1 diabetes

The objectives were to evaluate possible associations between the SLC30A8 R325W polymorphism and gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) as well as postpartum development of type 2 diabetes. Furthermore, we wanted to confirm the prevalence of zinc transporter 8 autoantibodies (ZnT8A), as previously reported, in a larger population and study its predictive value in relation to other β cell specific autoantibodies in postpartum development of type 1 diabetes. Women diagnosed with GDM (n = 776) and women without diabetes (n = 511) were included in the study. Autoantibodies were analyzed in all women using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. DNA was extracted when possible from women with GDM (n = 536) and all of the controls. R325W was detected through polymerase chain reaction and specific restriction digestion. The R325W C-allele were more frequent in women with GDM compared to in controls (OR 1.47, 95 % CI 1.16-1.88, p = 0.0018) but not significantly increased in women with GDM and postpartum development of type 2 diabetes. Autoantibodies were found in 6.8 % (53/776) of the women with GDM and approximately 3.2 % (25/776) were ZnT8A positive. Approximately 19 % (10/53) of the autoantibody positive women with GDM developed postpartum type 1 diabetes. In conclusion, this is the first study to report a significant association between the R325W C-allele and increased risk of developing GDM. All of the autoantibody positive women with GDM who developed postpartum type 1 diabetes were positive for autoantibodies against glutamic acid decarboxylase (GADA). Thus ZnT8A did not have any additional predictive value in postpartum development of type 1 diabetes.

Gestational diabetes: Glycaemic predictors for fetal macrosomia and maternal risk of future diabetes

AIMS

To investigate how glucose levels at diagnosis of gestational diabetes (GDM) are associated with infant birth weight and long-term risk of manifest diabetes mellitus in the mother.

METHODS

In a case control study GDM pregnancies (n=2085) were compared with non-GDM pregnancies matched for day of delivery and obstetric unit (n=3792). GDM was defined as capillary blood glucose (cB-glucose) ≥9.0mmol/l (plasma glucose ≥10.0mmol/l) after a 75g oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT). The GDM cohort were followed up 8.5-13.5yrs after initial diagnosis with a questionnaire, answered by 1324 GDM women (65%).

RESULTS

GDM women had higher mean infant birth-weight compared with controls (3682g vs. 3541g, P<0.001). In multiple linear regression analysis, birth weight was positively correlated to fasting cB-glucose at GDM diagnosis (P<0.001), increased week of gestation (P<0.001) and BMI before pregnancy (P<0.003), while 2h OGTT cB-glucose values ≥9.0mmol/l were not related. Infants born to mothers with fasting cB-glucose ≤4.5mmol/l had no increased mean birth-weight or macrosomia (≥4500g) compared to controls. In the follow up 334/1324 women (25%) of the GDM women had developed diabetes, 215 type 2 diabetes, 46 type 1 diabetes and 72 unclassified diabetes. In logistic regression fasting cB-glucose and 2h OGTT cB-glucose at diagnosis of GDM as well as BMI >25 and origin outside Europe were risk factors for manifest diabetes.

CONCLUSIONS

Fasting blood glucose at diagnosis of GDM gives important information besides 2h OGTT glucose about pregnancy outcome and future risk for maternal diabetes.

Expression of Natural Cytotoxicity Receptors on and Intracellular Cytokine Production by NK Cells in Women with Gestational Diabetes Mellitus

PROBLEM

To determine the role of peripheral blood NK (pNK) cells in putative etiology of gestational diabetes, the expression of surface markers on pNK cells and the percentage of cytokine-producing pNK cells in women at 12 weeks of pregnancy with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) were studied.

METHOD OF STUDY

Multicolor flow cytometry was used to analyze the expression of NK cell surface receptors (CD16, NKp46, and NKp30) and intracellular cytokines (IFN-γ, TNF-α, TGF-β, and VEGF) in pNK cells (CD56(dim) and CD56(bright) ) at 12 weeks of pregnancy with GDM (n = 7) and non-GDM (n = 28).

RESULTS

CD56(bright) /CD16(-) NK and CD56(bright) /NKp46(+) NK cell percentage were significantly lower in GDM women than that in non-GDM women. IFN-γ- and TNF-α-producing CD56(+) cells, respectively, were significantly high, while TGF-β- and VEGF-producing CD56(+) cells and CD56(bright) cells, respectively, were significantly low in GDM women.

CONCLUSIONS

Women with GDM possibly have abnormal NK cell function for the expression of surface receptors and cytokine production.

Seasonal Pattern in the Diagnosis of Gestational Diabetes Mellitus in Southern Sweden

Aim. The aim of this study was to examine seasonal patterns in glucose tolerance and in the diagnosis of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). Methods. Altogether, 11 538 women underwent a 75-g oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) in the twenty-eighth week of pregnancy during the years 2003-2005 in southern Sweden. GDM was defined by the 2-h capillary glucose concentration in the OGTT (≥8.9 mmol/L). Chi-squared test, analysis of variance, and regression analyses were used for statistical evaluations. Results. The seasonal frequency of GDM ranged from 3.3% in spring to 5.5% in summer (p < 0.0001). Mean 2-h glucose concentrations followed the same seasonal trend, with a difference of 0.15 mmol/L between winter and summer (p < 0.0001). The 2-h glucose level increased by 0.009 mmol/L for every degree increase in temperature (p < 0.0001). In regression analysis, summer (June-August) was associated with increased 2-h glucose level (p < 0.001) and increased frequency of GDM compared to the other seasons (odds ratio 1.51, 95% confidence interval 1.24-1.83, and p < 0.001). Conclusions. Our findings suggest seasonal variation in the 2-h glucose concentration in the OGTT and in the proportion of women diagnosed with GDM, with a peak in the summer.

IgG4 subclass glutamic acid decarboxylase antibodies (GADA) are associated with a reduced risk of developing type 1 diabetes as well as increased C-peptide levels in GADA positive gestational diabetes

Some women with gestational diabetes (GDM) present with autoantibodies associated with type 1 diabetes. These are usually directed against glutamic acid decarboxylase (GADA) and suggested to predict development of type 1 diabetes. The primary aim of this study was to investigate if GADA IgG subclasses at onset of GDM could assist in predicting postpartum development. Of 1225 women diagnosed with first-time GDM only 51 were GADA-positive. Total GADA was determined using ELISA. GADA subclasses were determined with radioimmunoassay. Approximately 25% of GADA-positive women developed type 1 diabetes postpartum. Titers of total GADA were higher in women that developed type 1 diabetes (142.1 vs 74.2u/mL; p=0.04) and they also had lower titers of GADA IgG4 (index=0.01 vs 0.04; p=0.03). In conclusion we found that that women with high titers of total GADA but low titers of GADA IgG4 were more prone to develop type 1 diabetes postpartum.

Epigenome-wide and transcriptome-wide analyses reveal gestational diabetes is associated with alterations in the human leukocyte antigen complex

Background

Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) affects approximately 10 % of pregnancies in the United States and increases the risk of adverse health outcomes in the offspring. These adult disease propensities may be set by anatomical and molecular alterations in the placenta associated with GDM.

Results

To assess the mechanistic aspects of fetal programming, we measured genome-wide methylation (Infinium HumanMethylation450 BeadChips) and expression (Affymetrix transcriptome microarrays) in placental tissue of 41 GDM cases and 41 matched pregnancies without maternal complications from the Harvard Epigenetic Birth Cohort. Specific transcriptional and epigenetic perturbations associated with GDM status included alterations in the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) region, which were validated in an independent cohort, the Rhode Island Child Health Study. Gene ontology enrichment among gene regulation influenced by GDM revealed an over-representation of immune response pathways among differential expression, reflecting these coordinated changes in the MHC region. This differential methylation and expression may be capturing shifts in cellular composition, reflecting physiological changes in the placenta associated with GDM.

Conclusions

Our study represents the largest investigation of transcriptomic and methylomic differences associated with GDM, providing comprehensive insight into how GDM shapes the intrauterine environment, which may have implications for fetal (re)programming.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s13148-015-0116-y) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

The influence of maternal islet beta-cell autoantibodies in conjunction with gestational hyperglycemia on neonatal outcomes

Objective

To determine the predictive value of the presence of maternal islet beta-cell autoantibodies with respect to neonatal outcomes.

Methods

A total of 311 pregnant women with abnormal 75 g oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) results were enrolled in this study. Maternal glutamic acid decarboxylase autoantibodies (GADA), islet cell autoantibodies (ICA) and insulin autoantibodies (IAA) were tested in fasting blood both on the day following the routine OGTT and before delivery. The birth weight, Apgar score, blood glucose and outcomes of each neonate were later evaluated and recorded.

Results

1. In this study, 33.9% of the pregnant women with gestational hyperglycemia had detectable levels of one or more types of anti-islet cell antibodies in the third trimester. The proportion of women who produced GADA and/or ICA was significantly higher in the group of women with gestational hyperglycemia than in the control group (P<0.05). The groups similarly differed in the proportion of women who tested positive for any anti-islet cell antibody (P<0.05). 2. Of the patients in our study, those who produced GADA exhibited an increase in uterine and umbilical arterial pulsatility indexes (PIs) during the third trimesters compared with the control group (P˂0.05). Additionally, an increased frequency of fetal growth restriction (FGR) was observed in the infants of women who produced IAA during pregnancy compared with those without autoantibodies (P˂0.05). 3. The rate of newborn admission to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) was significantly associated with the presence of maternal ICA during the third trimester (OR, 6.36; 95% CI, 1.22–33.26). 4. The incidence of neonatal asphyxia was associated with the presence of maternal GADA in both the second (OR, 10.44; 95% CI, 1.46–74.92) and the third (OR, 8.33; 95% CI, 1.45–47.82) trimesters.

Conclusion

Approximately one-third of the women with gestational hyperglycemia produced anti-islet cell antibodies. The incidence of FGR was higher in women with gestational hyperglycemia who produced IAA than in those without autoantibodies. Maternal ICA production in the third trimester was a risk factor for the subsequent admission of newborns to the NICU. Furthermore, the presence of maternal GADA placed the neonate at increased risk for asphyxia.

Zinc transporter 8 autoantibodies: what is their clinical relevance in gestational diabetes?

AIMS

To investigate the prevalence, clinical significance and antepartum to postpartum trajectory of zinc transporter 8 autoantibodies, a novel marker of islet autoimmunity, in women with gestational diabetes mellitus.

METHODS

A total of 302 consecutive women attending a multi-ethnic Australian gestational diabetes clinic were prospectively studied. Zinc transporter 8 autoantibodies were measured at gestational diabetes diagnosis and 3 months postpartum using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and were correlated with maternal phenotype, antepartum and postpartum glucose tolerance, treatment and perinatal outcomes.

RESULTS

Of the 302 women, 30 (9.9%) were positive for one islet autoantibody antepartum. No participant had multiple islet autoantibodies. Zinc transporter 8 autoantibodies were the most prevalent autoantibody [zinc transporter 8 autoantibodies: 13/271 women (4.8%); glutamic acid decarboxylase 7/302 women (2.3%); insulinoma-associated antigen-2: 6/302 women (2.0%); insulin: 4/302 women (1.3%)]. Zinc transporter 8 autoantibody positivity was associated with a higher fasting glucose level on the antepartum oral glucose tolerance test, but not with BMI, insulin use, perinatal outcomes or postpartum glucose intolerance. Five of the six women who tested positive for zinc transporter 8 autoantibodies antepartum were negative for zinc transporter 8 autoantibodies postpartum, which corresponded to a significant decline in titre antepartum to postpartum (26.5 to 3.8 U/ml; P=0.03). This was in contrast to the antepartum to postpartum trajectory of the other islet autoantibodies, which remained unchanged.

CONCLUSIONS

Zinc transporter 8 autoantibodies were the most common islet autoantibody in gestational diabetes. Zinc transporter 8 autoantibody positivity was associated with slightly higher fasting glucose levels and, unlike other islet autoantibodies, titres declined postpartum. Zinc transporter 8 autoantibodies may be a marker for islet autoimmunity in a proportion of women with gestational diabetes, but the clinical relevance of zinc transporter 8 autoantibodies in pregnancy and gestational diabetes requires further investigation.

Glutamic acid decarboxylase autoantibody-positivity post-partum is associated with impaired β-cell function in women with gestational diabetes mellitus

AIMS

To investigate whether the presence of glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD) autoantibodies post-partum in women with prior gestational diabetes mellitus was associated with changes in metabolic characteristics, including β-cell function and insulin sensitivity.

METHODS

During 1997-2010, 407 women with gestational diabetes mellitus were offered a 3-month post-partum follow-up including anthropometrics, serum lipid profile, HbA1c and GAD autoantibodies, as well as a 2-h oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) with blood glucose, serum insulin and C-peptide at 0, 30 and 120 min. Indices of insulin sensitivity and insulin secretion were estimated to assess insulin secretion adjusted for insulin sensitivity, disposition index (DI).

RESULTS

Twenty-two (5.4%) women were positive for GAD autoantibodies (GAD+ve) and the remainder (94.6%) were negative for GAD autoantibodies (GAD-ve). The two groups had similar age and prevalence of diabetes mellitus. Women who were GAD+ve had significantly higher 2-h OGTT glucose concentrations during their index-pregnancy (10.5 vs. 9.8 mmol/l, P = 0.001), higher fasting glucose (5.2 vs. 5.0 mmol/l, P = 0.02) and higher 2-h glucose (7.8 vs. 7.1 mmol/l, P = 0.05) post-partum. Fasting levels of C-peptide and insulin were lower in GAD+ve women compared with GAD-ve women (520 vs. 761 pmol/l, P = 0.02 and 33 vs. 53 pmol/l, P = 0.05) Indices of insulin sensitivity were similar in GAD+ve and GAD-ve women, whereas all estimates of DI were significantly reduced in GAD+ve women.

CONCLUSION

GAD+ve women had higher glucose levels and impaired insulin secretion adjusted for insulin sensitivity (DI) compared with GAD-ve women. The combination of OGTT and GAD autoantibodies post-partum identify women with impaired β-cell function. These women should be followed with special focus on development of Type 1 diabetes.

Adult-Onset Type 1 Diabetes and Pregnancy: Three Case Reports

From 5% to 10% of diabetic patients have type 1 diabetes. Here we describe three cases of adult-onset type 1 diabetes in pregnancy treated at our clinic between 2009 and 2012. Two patients came for specialist examination during pregnancy, the third after pregnancy. These women had no prior overt diabetes and shared certain characteristics, that is, no family diabetes history, age over 35, normal prepregnancy BMI, need for insulin therapy as of the early weeks of pregnancy, and high-titer anti-GAD antibody positivity. The patients had persistent diabetes after delivery, suggesting that they developed adult-onset type 1 diabetes during pregnancy. About 10% of GDM patients become pancreatic autoantibody positive and the risk of developing overt diabetes is higher when two or more autoantibodies are present (particularly GAD and ICA). GAD-Ab shows the highest sensitivity for type 1 diabetes prediction. We need to bear in mind that older patients might conceivably develop an adult-onset type 1 diabetes during or after pregnancy. So we suggest that women with GDM showing the described clinical features shall be preferably tested for autoimmunity. Pregnant patients at risk of type 1 diabetes should be identified to avoid the maternal and fetal complications and the acute onset of diabetes afterwards.

Thyroid dysfunction and autoantibodies in early pregnancy are associated with increased risk of gestational diabetes and adverse birth outcomes

CONTEXT

Maternal thyroid dysfunction, especially in early pregnancy, may lead to pregnancy complications and adverse birth outcomes. Few population-based prospective studies have evaluated these effects and results are discrepant.

OBJECTIVE

We examined the association of thyroid function and autoimmunity in early pregnancy with adverse pregnancy and birth outcomes.

SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS

The study used data from the prospective mother-child cohort "Rhea" study in Crete, Greece. A total of 1170 women with singleton pregnancies participated in this analysis. Maternal serum samples in the first trimester of pregnancy were tested for thyroid hormones (TSH, free T(4), and free T(3)) and thyroid antibodies (thyroid peroxidase antibody and thyroglobulin antibody). Multivariable log-Poisson regression models were used adjusting for confounders.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Outcomes included gestational diabetes, gestational hypertension/preeclampsia, cesarean section, preterm delivery, low birth weight, and small-for-gestational-age neonates.

RESULTS

The combination of high TSH and thyroid autoimmunity in early pregnancy was associated with a 4-fold increased risk for gestational diabetes [relative risk (RR) 4.3, 95% confidence interval (CI) 2.1-8.9)] and a 3-fold increased risk for low birth weight neonates (RR 3.1, 95% CI 1.2-8.0) after adjustment for several confounders. Women positive for thyroid antibodies without elevated TSH levels in early pregnancy were at high risk for spontaneous preterm delivery (RR 1.7, 95% CI 1.1-2.8), whereas the combined effect of high TSH and positive thyroid antibodies did not show an association with preterm birth.

CONCLUSIONS

High TSH levels and thyroid autoimmunity in early pregnancy may detrimentally affect pregnancy and birth outcomes.

Prevalence of zinc transporter 8 antibodies in gestational diabetes mellitus

AIMS

Gestational diabetes mellitus affects approximately 7% of all pregnant women. Some of these women develop autoantibodies that are generally characteristic of Type 1 diabetes. Autoantibodies targeting glutamic acid decarboxylase and tyrosine phosphatase-like protein are the most frequently reported. A recently identified autoantigen in Type 1 diabetes is zinc transporter 8. Some reports suggest that the frequency of zinc transporter 8 antibodies is as high as glutamic acid decarboxylase antibodies in Type 1 diabetes and thus a good diagnostic marker for autoimmune diabetes. There are currently no reports of zinc transporter 8 antibodies in gestational diabetes. The aim of this pilot study was to investigate the frequency of zinc transporter 8 antibodies in patients at clinical onset of gestational diabetes mellitus.

METHODS

  Subjects included in this pilot study were all diagnosed with gestational diabetes at Skåne University Hospital, Lund, Sweden, 2009-2010 (n = 193). Sera samples were analysed for antibodies using a commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay according to the manufacturers' instructions.

RESULTS

We found that 19/193 patients with gestational diabetes, diagnosed in 2009-2010, were positive for at least one autoantibody. Glutamic acid decarboxylase was the most common single autoantibody (52.6%; 10/19), followed by zinc transporter 8 (21.1%; 4/19) and tyrosine phosphatase-like protein (15.8%; 3/19). Combinations of two or more antibodies were rare (10.5%; 2/19).

CONCLUSIONS

In this study, we found that zinc transporter 8 added 2.1% (4/193) of autoantibody positivity in women with gestational diabetes who were negative for glutamic acid decarboxylase and tyrosine phosphatase-like protein antibodies. Glutamic acid decarboxylase was still the most prevalent autoantibody in gestational diabetes, but, as zinc transporter 8 was present even in the absence of glutamic acid decarboxylase, this autoantibody could be an important independent marker of autoimmunity in gestational diabetes.

HLA-DQB1 genotypes and islet cell autoantibodies against GAD65 and IA-2 in relation to development of diabetes post partum in women with gestational diabetes mellitus

AIMS

To study HLA-DQB1 genes and islet cell autoantibodies against glutamic acid decarboxylase 65 (GADA) and insulinoma antigen-2 (IA-2A) in relation to diabetes post partum in mothers with diagnosed gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM).

METHODS

During 2003-2004, women undergoing a 75 g oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) during pregnancy were invited to participate in the Mamma Study. Cut-off level defining GDM was a 2-h capillary blood glucose of 7.8 mmol/L. 1-2 years after delivery a 75 g OGTT was performed, GADA and IA-2A were measured and HLA-DQB1 genes analysed. Data were available for 452 mothers with previous GDM and 168 randomly selected control subjects.

RESULTS

HLA-DQB1*0602 was negatively associated with GDM (p=0.033) and with development of diabetes post partum (p=0.017), whereas high risk HLA were not associated with GDM or with diabetes. The presence of GADA post partum was positively associated with diabetes post partum (p=0.0009), but not with impaired glucose tolerance.

CONCLUSIONS

Mothers with GDM and HLA-DQB1*0602 were less likely to develop diabetes after pregnancy, and type 1 diabetes associated high risk HLA genes did not predict type 1 diabetes post partum. Additionally, GADA were positively associated with diabetes development.

Gestational diabetes mellitus is associated with TCF7L2 gene polymorphisms independent of HLA-DQB1*0602 genotypes and islet cell autoantibodies

AIMS

To test whether the TCF7L2 gene was associated with gestational diabetes, whether the association between TCF7L2 and gestational diabetes was independent of HLA-DQB1*0602 and islet cell autoantibodies, as well as maternal age, number of pregnancies, family history of diabetes and the HLA-DQB1 genotypes, and to test whether the distribution of HLA-DQB1 alleles was affected by country of birth.

METHODS

We genotyped the rs7903146, rs12255372 and rs7901695 single nucleotide polymorphisms of the TCF7L2 gene in 826 mothers with gestational diabetes and in 1185 healthy control subjects in the Diabetes Prediction in Skåne Study. The mothers were also typed for HLA-DQB1 genotypes and tested for islet cell autoantibodies against GAD65, insulinoma-associated antigen-2 and insulin.

RESULTS

The heterozygous genotypes CT, GT and TC of the rs7903146 (T is risk for Type 2 diabetes), rs12255372 (T is risk for Type 2 diabetes) and rs7901695 (C is risk for Type 2 diabetes), respectively, as well as the homozygous genotypes TT, TT and CC of the rs7903146, rs12255372 and rs7901695, respectively, were strongly associated with gestational diabetes (P < 0.0001). These associations remained statistically significant after adjusting for maternal age, number of pregnancies, family history of diabetes and HLA-DQ genotypes and were independent of the presence of islet cell autoantibodies. No interaction was observed between TCF7L2 and HLA-DQB1*0602, which was shown to be negatively associated with gestational diabetes in mothers born in Sweden (P = 0.010).

CONCLUSIONS

The TCF7L2 was associated with susceptibility for gestational diabetes independently of the presence of HLA-DQB1*0602 and islet cell autoantibodies and other factors such as maternal age, number of pregnancies, family history of diabetes and other HLA-DQ genotypes. The HLA-DQB1*0602 was negatively associated with gestational diabetes in mothers born in Sweden.

Outcomes in women with a history of gestational diabetes. Screening and prevention of type 2 diabetes. Literature review

Women with a history of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) are characterized by a high risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) (x 7), metabolic syndrome (x 2 to 5) and cardiovascular diseases (x 1,7). Women with lesser degrees of glucose intolerance share the same risks. T2DM may occur from post-partum (5 to 14%) to several years later, up to 25 years. Some factors associated with T2DM are identified: obesity, early diagnosis of GDM before 24 weeks gestation, high pregnancy OGTT blood glucose or insulin-therapy during GDM. Screening for T2DM only with fasting glucose provides less sensibility than with OGTT; HbA1c may supplant these dosages. The recurrence rate of GDM is between 30 and 84%, non-white ethnicity and insulinotherapy during GDM being the best proven predictors. High risk women need repeated life-long screenings for glycaemic abnormalities, or when another pregnancy is planned. Among obese women with history of GDM who show minor glycoregulation disturbances, modifications of lifestyle in intensive programs or metformin halve the risk of DT2. However, studies analysing practices show low adhesion to screening; without an intensive program, few women implement lifestyle modifications. These intensive programs should be implemented and proposed to high-risk women. Their therapeutic education should also include prevention of cardiovascular risk factors.

Danish children born with glutamic acid decarboxylase-65 and islet antigen-2 autoantibodies at birth had an increased risk to develop type 1 diabetes

OBJECTIVE

A large, population-based case-control cohort was used to test the hypothesis that glutamic acid decarboxylase-65 (GAD65) and islet antigen-2 autoantibodies (IA-2A) at birth predict type 1 diabetes.

DESIGN AND METHODS

The design was an individually matched case-control study of all Danish type 1 diabetes patients born between 1981 and 2002 and diagnosed before May 1 2004 (median age at diagnosis was 8.8 years). Dried blood spot samples collected 5 days after birth in the 1981-2002 birth cohorts and stored at -25 °C were identified from 2023 patients and from two matched controls (n = 4042). Birth data and information on parental age and diabetes were obtained from Danish registers. GAD65A and IA-2A were determined in a radiobinding assay. HLA-DQB1 alleles were analyzed by PCR using time-resolved fluorescence.

RESULTS

GAD65A and IA-2A were found in 70/2023 (3.5%) patients compared to 21/4042 (0.5%) controls resulting in a hazard ratio (HR) of 7.49 (P < 0.0001). The HR decreased to 4.55 but remained significant (P < 0.0003) after controlling for parental diabetes and HLA-DQB1 alleles. Conditional logistic regression analysis showed a HR of 2.55 (P < 0.0001) for every tenfold increase in the levels of GAD65A and IA-2A. This HR decreased to 1.93 but remained significant (P < 0.001) after controlling for parental diabetes and HLA-DQB1 alleles.

CONCLUSION

These data suggest that GAD65A and IA-2A positivity at birth are associated with an increased risk of developing type 1 diabetes in Danish children diagnosed between 1981 and 2004.

[Outcomes in women with history of gestational diabetes mellitus. Screening and prevention of type 2 diabetes mellitus. Literature review]

Women with a history of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) are characterized by a high risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) (X 7), metabolic syndrome (X 2 to 5) and cardiovascular diseases (X 1,7). Women with lesser degrees of glucose intolerance share the same risks. T2DM may occur from postpartum (5 to 14%) to several years later, up to 25 years. Some factors associated with T2DM are identified: obesity, early diagnostic before 24 weeks, high pregnancy OGTT blood glucose or insulinotherapy. Screening for T2DM only with fasting glucose provides less sensibility than with OGTT; HbA1c may supplant these dosages. The recurrence rate of GDM is between 30 and 84%, non-white ethnicity and insulinotherapy during GDM being the best proven predictors. High risk women need repeated life-long screenings for glycemic abnomalies, or when another pregnancy is planned. Among overweight or obese women with history of GDM who show minor glycoregulation disturbances, it is proved that modifications of lifestyle in intensive programs or metformin halve the risk of DT2. However, studies analysing practices show low adhesion to screening; without an intensive program, few women implement lifestyle modifications. These intensive programs should be implemented and proposed to high-risk women. Their therapeutic education should also include prevention of cardiovascular risk factors.

Serological markers of autoimmunity in pregnant women with polycystic ovary syndrome: a pilot study

BACKGROUND

Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is highly prevalent in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Women with GDM have considerable risk for developing both type 1 and type 2 diabetes.

AIM

To evaluate the prevalence of anti-GAD65 and anti-IA2 auto-antibodies in Chilean pregnant women with GDM, normal pregnancy (NP) and with PCOS (PPCOS) to establish whether in PCOS women GDM is partially induced by auto-antibodies.

METHODS

Women with singleton pregnancies matched by age and gestational age were included: 50 GDM, 59 NP and 50 PPCOS. During gestational weeks 22-28, a 2-h, 75 g oral glucose tolerance test was performed, with measurement of glucose, insulin, lipids and auto-antibodies.

RESULTS

A highly prevalence of anti-GAD65 antibodies (12%) was observed in women with GDM. PPCOS and NP women showed a similar distribution of anti-GAD65 antibodies (2.0% and 1.7%, respectively). Anti-IA2 antibodies were present in 4.0% of women with GDM, in 1.7% of NP women and 2.0% PPCOS women.

CONCLUSION

A highly prevalence of anti-GAD65 was observed in women with GDM which is in agreement with previous studies. Nevertheless, the frequency of these auto-antibodies was very low in NP and PPCOS women.

Nutritional risk factors of early development of postpartum prediabetes and diabetes in women with gestational diabetes mellitus

OBJECTIVE

Early detection of prediabetes and diabetes after delivery helps prevent and delay the development of overt type 2 diabetes in women with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). We sought to identify modifiable risk factors for the early development of postpartum type 2 diabetes in women with GDM that may help establish interventions for preventing or delaying the subsequent onset of type 2 diabetes.

METHODS

Three hundred eighty-one women who developed GDM during pregnancy were tested for 1) antepartum anthropometric and biochemical measurements, 2) pregnancy outcome, 3) oral glucose tolerance test at 6 to 12 wk after delivery, and 4) postpartum anthropometric, biochemical, and nutritional measurements. The subjects were divided into three groups on the basis of the postpartum oral glucose tolerance test results: normal glucose tolerance group (n=193), prediabetes (n=161), and diabetes (n=27).

RESULTS

The incidences of postpartum prediabetes and diabetes at 6 to 12 wk follow-up in Korean women with GDM were 44.8% and 5.2%, respectively. Antepartum modifiable risk factors for developing type 2 diabetes at early postpartum included higher body mass index, lower β-cell function, insulin dosage during late pregnancy, and the non-modifiable risk factor of family history of diabetes (R2=0.14). Postpartum risk factors included higher body mass index, serum triacylglycerols, hemoglobin A1c, and energy intake and lower insulin secretion capacity (R2=0.43). Animal fat intake was higher in the prediabetes and diabetes groups than in the normal glucose tolerance group, whereas breast-feeding did not alter the risk for the development of postpartum diabetes.

CONCLUSION

This study strongly suggests that the development of postpartum type 2 diabetes in women with GDM can be prevented and/or delayed by lifestyle and nutritional intervention during antepartum and postpartum.

Onset of autoimmune type 1 diabetes during pregnancy: Prevalence and outcomes

Although this has been recently challenged, gestational diabetes mellitus (gestational diabetes) is still defined as an "impairment of glucose tolerance with onset or first recognition during pregnancy". According to this definition, all pathophysiological conditions leading to beta cell deficiency may reveal as gestational diabetes, due to the physiological insulin resistance associated with pregnancy. In rare patients, gestational diabetes is associated with the presence of islet autoantibodies and with a high risk of progression to overt type 1 diabetes after delivery. This condition has often been compared to the Latent Autoimmune Diabetes in Adults. The frequency of islet autoantibodies in gestational diabetes has been assessed in many studies, but data about the clinical presentation of this subtype and about its prognosis are few. We review these studies and discuss the links of autoimmune gestational diabetes with type 1 diabetes mellitus.

Comparison of measurements of autoantibodies to glutamic acid decarboxylase and islet antigen-2 in whole blood eluates from dried blood spots using the RSR-enzyme linked immunosorbent assay kits and in-house radioimmunoassays

To evaluate the performance of dried blood spots (DBSs) with subsequent analyses of glutamic acid decarboxylase (GADA) and islet antigen-2 (IA-2A) with the RSR-ELISAs, we selected 80 children newly diagnosed with type 1 diabetes and 120 healthy women. DBSs from patients and controls were used for RSR-ELISAs while patients samples were analysed also with in-house RIAs. The RSR-ELISA-GADA performed well with a specificity of 100%, albeit sensitivity (46%) was lower compared to in RIA (56%; P = .008). No prozone effect was observed after dilution of discrepant samples. RSR-ELISA-IA-2A achieved specificity of 69% and sensitivity was lower (59%) compared with RIA (66%; P < .001). Negative or low positive patients and control samples in the RSR-ELISA-IA-2A increased after dilution. Eluates from DBS can readily be used to analyse GADA with the RSR-ELISA, even if low levels of autoantibodies were not detected. Some factor could disturb RSR-ELISA-IA-2A analyses.

Diabetes related autoimmunity in gestational diabetes mellitus: is it important?

Some GDM women show autoantibody positivity during and after pregnancy and pancreatic autoantibodies can appear for the first time in some patients after delivery. Autoantibody positivity is often accompanied by a high frequency of DR3 and DR4 alleles, which are classically related to the development of type 1 diabetes and, although not all studies agree on this point, by an immunological imbalance expressed by the behaviour of the lymphocyte subpopulation, which can be seen as diabetic anomalies overlapping with the immunological changes that occur during pregnancy. It is worth emphasizing that such patients may develop classical type 1 diabetes during and/or after their pregnancy or they may evolve, often some years after their pregnancy, into cases of latent autoimmune diabetes of adulthood (LADA). Autoimmune GDM accounts for a relatively small number of cases (about 10% of all GDM) but the risk of these women developing type 1 diabetes or LADA is very high, so these patients must be identified in order to prevent the severe maternal and fetal complications of type 1 diabetes developing in pregnancy, or its acute onset afterwards. Since women with autoimmune GDM must be considered at high risk of developing type 1 diabetes in any of its clinical forms, these women should be regarded as future candidates for the immunomodulatory strategies used in type 1 diabetes.

Do postal reminders increase postpartum screening of diabetes mellitus in women with gestational diabetes mellitus? A randomized controlled trial

OBJECTIVE

Women with previous gestational diabetes mellitus rarely receive the recommended 2-hour oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) after delivery. We sought to determine whether postal reminders to be sent after delivery to a patient, her physician, or both would increase screening rates.

STUDY DESIGN

Patients were assigned randomly to 4 groups: reminders sent to both physician and patient, to physician but not patient, or to patient but not physician or no reminders were sent. The primary outcome was the proportion of patients who underwent an OGTT within 1 year after delivery. The secondary outcome was the performance of other postpartum screening tests.

RESULTS

OGTT rates were significantly increased in the physician/patient reminder group (49/81 women; 60.5%), in the patient-only reminder group (42/76 women; 55.3%), and in the physician-only reminder group (16/31 women; 51.6%) compared with the no reminder group (5/35 women; 14.3%; P < .05).

CONCLUSION

Postpartum reminders greatly increased screening rates for women with gestational diabetes mellitus.