Gestational diabetes: Is there a relationship between leg length and glucose tolerance?
OBJECTIVE
To assess the relationship between leg length and glucose tolerance in pregnancy.


METHODS
The leg length and leg-to-height percentage were prospectively determined on 161 glucose-tolerant women during pregnancy and 61 women with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM).


RESULTS
Women with GDM were a mean of 2.8 cm shorter than women who were glucose tolerant, due entirely to their leg lengths being a mean of 3.2 cm shorter. With respect to the 2-h result on the glucose tolerance test (GTT), there were negative correlations for height (r = -0.161, P = 0.017), leg length (r = -0.266, P < 0.0005), and the leg-to-height percentage (r = -0.294, P < 0.0005). The correlation between the leg-to-height percentage and the 2-h result on the GTT remained significant after adjustment for age (r = -0.252, P < 0.0005) and for age and BMI (r = -0.224, P = 0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
Women with GDM are shorter than glucose-tolerant women and have a lower leg-to-height percentage. Consideration of short stature as a risk factor for GDM is not valid without taking into account the leg-to-height percentage.
Moses
Robert G
RG
Diabetes Service, Illawarra Area Health Service, Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia. mosesr@iahs.nsw.gov.au
Mackay
Maria T
MT
D000328:Adult; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D001827:Body Height; D016640:Diabetes, Gestational / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D005951:Glucose Tolerance Test; D006801:Humans; D007866:Leg / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D012307:Risk Factors
D001786:Blood Glucose