Prevalence of impaired glucose tolerance 6 years after gestational diabetes.
OBJECTIVE
Prevalence of glucose metabolism disorders in women six years after gestational diabetes in the index pregnancy (GDM).


METHODS
227 Caucasian women who developed GDM between 1995 and 1996 were investigated; 173 women (BMI 27.5+/-6.0 kg/m2) received 75 g oGGT on average 5.8+/-2.0 years after delivery.


RESULTS
Impaired glucose metabolism was found in 31.2%, IGT or IFG 19.1%, diabetes mellitus type 2 (DM2) 9.2%, diabetes mellitus type 1 (DM1) 2.3%, second GDM 0.6%. 27.2% (BMI 25-29.9 kg/m2) were overweight, 23.1% suffered from obesity (BMI 30-39.9 kg/m2) and 5.2% morbid obesity (BMI>or=40 kg/m2). In comparison to a healthy control group, women with DM2 at re-examination were: older in age (32.1+/-5.9 vs. 29.1+/-4.8 years, p<0.05), had higher BMI (29.4+/-6.9 vs. 24.6+/-4.8 kg/m2, p<0.05), higher fasting blood glucose (6.5+/-1.9 vs. 5.2+/-0.9 mmol/l, p<0.05), earlier diagnosis of GDM (25+/-8 vs. 29+/-5 SSW, p<0.05), more frequent insulin therapy during pregnancy (75 vs. 24%) and had significantly higher insulin- and C-peptide for all measures of the oGTT, whereas HbA1c was not different (4.9+/-0.5 vs. 4.8+/-0.3%, n. s.).


CONCLUSIONS
In an average of 5.8 years after the diagnosis of GDM, the majority of women still have chronic insulin resistance. One third has either IGT, IFG or diabetes mellitus. Therefore, a long term follow-up is strongly recommended for women diagnosed with GDM.
Hunger-Dathe
W
W
Friedrich-Schiller University of Jena, Department of Internal Medicine III, Jena, and Hufeland-Hospital GmbH, Bad Langensalza, Germany. wilgard.hunger-dathe@med.uni-jena.de
Mosebach
N
N
Sämann
A
A
Wolf
G
G
Müller
U A
UA
D000328:Adult; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis; D016640:Diabetes, Gestational / Q000097:blood / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D018149:Glucose Intolerance / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005951:Glucose Tolerance Test; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology; D050177:Overweight; D010298:Parity; D011247:Pregnancy; D015995:Prevalence; D013997:Time Factors
D001786:Blood Glucose