title: Maternal glucose response to betamethasone administration.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study aims to describe the pattern of maternal glucose response to betamethasone administration using a continuous glucose monitoring system.
  
  
  METHODS
  A prospective observational trial was conducted among women receiving clinically indicated betamethasone between 24 and 34 weeks gestation. At the time of initial betamethasone administration, a continuous glucose monitoring device was inserted which measured interstitial fluid glucose levels every 5 minutes. Glucose levels were monitored for 7 days, until delivery, or until hospital discharge, whichever came first. We recorded the percentage of time women spent above three glucose thresholds: 110, 144, and 180 mg/dL, respectively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 17 women were enrolled at the time of betamethasone administration and data were available for 15 patients. There were 11 nondiabetic and 4 diabetic women. Both diabetic and nondiabetic women had the highest recorded blood glucose readings between 24 and 48 hours after the first injection of betamethasone. In that period, nondiabetic women spent 73, 40, and 17% of the time with blood glucose levels above the 110, 144, and 180 mg/dL thresholds, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Nondiabetic women receiving betamethasone manifest significant hyperglycemia after betamethasone administration. If delivery is imminent, maternal glucose response to betamethasone may need to be monitored to prevent possible neonatal hypoglycemia.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan.
authors.forename: Elizabeth S
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Langen
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts.
authors.forename: Jessica L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Kuperstock
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Colorado, Aurora, Colorado.
authors.forename: Joyce F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Sung
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Stanford University, Stanford, California.
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Taslimi
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Santa Clara Valley Medical Center, San Jose, California.
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Byrne
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Stanford University, Stanford, California.
authors.forename: Yasser Y
authors.initials: YY
authors.lastname: El-Sayed
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001623:Betamethasone / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism*; D015190:Blood Glucose Self-Monitoring; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000150:complications / Q000378:metabolism*; D016640:Diabetes, Gestational / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D006943:Hyperglycemia / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000378:metabolism; D011247:Pregnancy; D011254:Pregnancy in Diabetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D047928:Premature Birth; D011446:Prospective Studies; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D005938:Glucocorticoids; D001623:Betamethasone