Longitudinal changes in basal hepatic glucose production and suppression during insulin infusion in normal pregnant women.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to evaluate basal endogenous glucose production and suppression during insulin infusion in normal pregnant women.


METHODS
This prospective, longitudinal study was conducted at the Medical Center Hospital of Vermont. Six healthy women were evaluated before conception and at 12 to 14 and 34 to 36 weeks' gestation. Body composition was estimated by hydrodensitometry. Basal endogenous glucose production was estimated with a primed constant infusion of 6-6 2H2 glucose, and suppression of endogenous glucose production was estimated with insulin infusion during a hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamp.


RESULTS
There was a significant (p = 0.02) 65% increase in fasting insulin concentration by late gestation. Moreover, there was a significant 30% (p = 0.0005) increase in basal endogenous glucose production (mg/min) with advancing gestation, which remained significant (p = 0.05) when corrected for fat-free mass. During insulin infusion endogenous glucose production was almost completely suppressed (i.e., > 90%) throughout gestation.


CONCLUSIONS
There is a significant increase in basal endogenous glucose production at 34 to 36 weeks' gestation in spite of a significant increase in fasting insulin concentration. However, endogenous glucose production remains sensitive to insulin infusion throughout gestation.
Catalano
P M
PM
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Vermont College of Medicine, Burlington.
Tyzbir
E D
ED
Wolfe
R R
RR
Roman
N M
NM
Amini
S B
SB
Sims
E A
EA
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005947:Glucose / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism*; D015309:Glucose Clamp Technique; D006801:Humans; D007328:Insulin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007332:Insulin Infusion Systems; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism*; D011247:Pregnancy / Q000378:metabolism*; D012016:Reference Values
D007328:Insulin; D005947:Glucose