Control of gestational diabetes.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of the study was to determine the best regimen for metabolic control of gestational diabetes.


METHODS
A prospective study was conducted over a period of 5 years in 355 diabetic women delivered at the King Fahd Hospital of the University, Al-Khobar, Saudi Arabia, between January 1987 and December 1991. The patients were divided into three groups according to their mean plasma glucose levels during pregnancy: good control was defined as a mean plasma glucose level of less than 120 mg/dl (group A); moderate control as a mean plasma glucose level between 120 and 140 mg/dl (group B); and poor control as a mean plasma glucose level in excess of 140 mg/dl (group C). The t-test was used for statistical analysis.


RESULTS
Antenatal and neonatal complications were much higher in groups B and C than in group A, the overall complication rate being five times higher in group C than in group A.


CONCLUSIONS
The data indicate that good glycemic control is one determinant of maternal and fetal complications in pregnancies complicated by gestational diabetes.
al-Najashi
S S
SS
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, College of Medicine and Medical Sciences, King Faisal University, Dammam, Saudi Arabia.
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism*; D016640:Diabetes, Gestational / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy; D003927:Diet, Diabetic; D005260:Female; D005323:Fetal Monitoring; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007328:Insulin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D007751:Labor, Induced; D007744:Obstetric Labor Complications / Q000209:etiology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011295:Prenatal Care; D012529:Saudi Arabia
D001786:Blood Glucose; D007328:Insulin