Effects of insulin on placental, fetal and maternal outcomes in gestational diabetes mellitus.
OBJECTIVE
To observe the effects of exogenous insulin on placental, fetal and maternal outcomes in Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (GDM).


METHODS
After screening and diagnoses(WHO criteria) 30 GDM patients(Group A) were kept on diet control and 39 GDM (Group B) who did not achieve glycemic targets were added subcutaneous insulin. Term placental weight, size, shape, consistency, fibrinoid necrosis, hemorrhages, cord color, length of the cord, completeness of membranes, weight and condition of baby and mode of delivery were assessed in 25 patients in each group.


RESULTS
Placental weight, cord width and baby weight were found to be more in Group B, than Group A and were statistically significant with p value 0.005, 0.02 and 0.003 respectively. Ten patients in group A and 17 patients in group B had cesarean deliveries.


CONCLUSIONS
Exogenous insulin produces significant effects on the placental, fetal and maternal outcomes in patients with GDM.
Dr. Rabia Arshad, MBBS, M.Phil (Pharmacology), Senior Lecturer, Pharmacology Department, Bahria University Medical and Dental College, Karachi, Pakistan.
Rabia
R
Arshad
Dr. Nasim Karim, MBBS, M.Phil, Ph.D, Post Doc (Pharmacology), Head of Pharmacology Department, Bahria University Medical and Dental College, Sailors Street, Adjacent PNS Shifa, Defence Phase 2, Karachi, Pakistan.
Nasim
N
Karim
Dr. Jahan Ara Hasan, FCPS, MCPS, MBBS, Associate Professor, Obstetrics and Gynecology Department, Dow University of Health Sciences, Karachi, Pakistan.
Jahan
J
Ara Hasan
Fetal outcome; Gestational diabetes; Gross morphology; Insulin; Maternal outcome; Placenta