Maternal Prediabetes and Outcome of Pregnancy—A Preliminary Report

Abstract

In 2 hospitals a study is in progress to relate abnormal carbohydrate metabolism, as measured by the standard 3 hr. glucose tolerance test during pregnancy, to the outcome of pregnancy, and also, to relate insulin treatment for the correction of this metabolic abnormality to the possible reduction in fetal wastage, congenital anomalies, other complications of pregnancy and later development of diabetes. Three groups of women and their offspring are being studied: (1) the abnormal "insulin treated", (2) the abnormal "positive controls", and (3) a random sample with normal glucose tolerance tests. Preliminary results as of June 30, 1958 show that in 2 groups of women, both having abnormal CHO metabolism during pregnancy, a statistically significant greater number (P=.01) of "big babies" (9 lb. or more at birth) were born to the group not treated with insulin (the "positive controls"). Similarly, the total number of abnormal outcomes was larger in the "positive control" group, but finer breakdowns of some outcomes such as congenital abnormalities and perinatal mortality are only suggestive at this time. No difference is noted so far in the development of frank diabetes following pregnancy.