title: Prevention of neonatal macrosomia in gestational diabetes by the use of intensive dietary therapy and home glucose monitoring.
abstract: This study was undertaken to determine if intensive dietary therapy, home blood glucose monitoring, and the selective use of insulin can be effective in preventing fetal macrosomia. All patients were screened at 24 to 28 weeks' gestation using a modification of O'Sullivan's criteria. The 153 patients diagnosed as gestational diabetics by the study protocol were placed on a 1800 to 2000 Kcal American Diabetes Association diet and taught home glucose monitoring. Insulin therapy was initiated only if blood glucose control was inadequate. There were no significant differences (p greater than 0.05) between the study and reference populations in regard to mean birthweight or the incidence of macrosomia. Since our study criteria for diagnosing gestational diabetes were slightly different from those of the National Diabetes Data Group (NDDG), data from 99 patients meeting the NDDG criteria were analyzed in a similar manner. No significant differences were found between this subgroup and the reference population. Since only 7.2% of our study patients required insulin, we conclude that the incidence of fetal macrosomia in gestational diabetes can be kept equal to that of the general population by a program of intensive dietary therapy and home glucose monitoring, with insulin being used only therapeutically, not prophylactically.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Southern Illinois University School of Medicine, Springfield 62794-9230.
authors.forename: D J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Wechter
authors.forename: R C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Kaufmann
authors.forename: K S
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Amankwah
authors.forename: D A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Rightmire
authors.forename: S P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Eardley
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Verhulst
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zinzilieta
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Young
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Teich
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Singleton
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001724:Birth Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D015190:Blood Glucose Self-Monitoring; D048909:Diabetes Complications; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000178:diet therapy / Q000188:drug therapy; D003927:Diet, Diabetic; D005260:Female; D005320:Fetal Macrosomia / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D007328:Insulin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011247:Pregnancy; D011254:Pregnancy in Diabetics / Q000150:complications* / Q000178:diet therapy / Q000188:drug therapy
chemical_list: D007328:Insulin