Association of Maternal Diet with Infant Birthweight in Women with Gestational Diabetes Mellitus

Pathophysiology from preconception, during pregnancy, and beyond

Gestational diabetes is the most common medical complication in pregnancy. Historically, gestational diabetes was considered a pregnancy complication involving treatment of rising glycaemia late in the second trimester. However, recent evidence challenges this view. Pre-pregnancy and pregnancy-specific factors influence gestational glycaemia, with open questions regarding roles of non-glycaemic factors in the aetiology and consequences of gestational diabetes. Varying patterns of insulin secretion and resistance in early and late pregnancy underlie a heterogeneity of gestational diabetes in the timing and pathophysiological subtypes with clinical implications: early gestational diabetes and insulin resistant gestational diabetes subtypes are associated with a higher risk of pregnancy complications. Metabolic perturbations of early gestational diabetes can affect early placental development, affecting maternal metabolism and fetal development. Fetal hyperinsulinaemia can affect the development of multiple fetal tissues, with short-term and long-term consequences. Pregnancy complications are prevented by managing glycaemia in early and late pregnancy in some, but not all women with gestational diabetes. A better understanding of the pathophysiology and heterogeneity of gestational diabetes will help to develop novel management approaches with focus on improved prevention of maternal and offspring short-term and long-term complications, from pre-conception, throughout pregnancy, and beyond.

The exploration of optimal gestational weight gain after oral glucose tolerance test for Chinese women with gestational diabetes mellitus

Now, no recommendations of gestational weight gain (GWG) after gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) diagnosis for Chinese women was made. This study aimed to explore the optimal GWG after oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) for Chinese women with GDM. The GWG status of 11,570 women was retrospectively analyzed. Binary regression model and restricted cubic spline were used to estimate the association between GWG after OGTT and the predicted probability of adverse outcomes. Based on above, the optimal GWG was defined as the range that not exceed 1% increase in the predicted probability from the lowest point. Results shown that every increased one unit GWG after OGTT was associated with higher risks of macrosomia, cesarean section and LGA, and lower risk of preterm birth. According to the WHO and Working Group on Obesity in China (WGOC) recommended pre-pregnancy BMI category, the optimal GWG were proposed: 3.66 to 6.66 kg/3.66 to 6.66 kg in underweight group, 3.07 to 6.50 kg/3.02 to 6.40 kg in normal weight group, 1.06 to 2.73 kg/0 to 1.99 kg in overweight group, and not applicable/- 0.22 to 2.53 kg in obese group, respectively. Therefore, it is necessary to classified Chinese population based on the WGOC recommended pre-pregnancy BMI category, that influenced the contribution of pre-pregnancy BMI groups and the optimal GWG recommendation for GDM women with overweight or obesity.