title: Effects of Diet and Metformin on placental morphology in Gestational Diabetes Mellitus.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the effects of diet control and Metformin on placental morphology in gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM).
  
  
  METHODS
  After written informed consent 62 GDMs were enrolled. According to WHO criteria, 30 cases of GDMs with blood sugar level <130 mg/dl, were assigned Group B (2000-2500Kcal/day and 30 minute walk thrice weekly were kept on diet control and 32 cases of GDM with blood sugar level >130 mg/dl, assigned Group C were kept on diet with tablet Metformin,(500mg TDS) Finally 25 normal pregnant females were kept in Group A as control. After delivery placentae were preserved and evaluated for morphology.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Heavy placentae with abundant villous immaturity, chorangiosis and syncytial knots in group B and fibrinoid necrosis and calcification in group C were seen. In group B versus A placental and cord width while in Group C versus A only cord width in gross morphology showed significant results. In group B versus A villous immaturity, chorangiosis, infarction and syncytial knots in light microscopy were present; similarly in B versus C placental width, chorangiosis and syncytial knots showed significant results, while in C versus A results were non-significant.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Metformin produced beneficial effects on placental morphology being comparable to normal control in contrast to diet group.
authors.affiliation: Dr. Rabia Arshad, MBBS, M. Phil. Assistant Professor and Head of Pharmacology Department, Altamash Institute of Dental Medicine, 2-R Sunset Boulevard, DHA, Karachi, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Rabia
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Arshad
authors.affiliation: Dr. Muhammad Adnan Kanpurwala, MBBS, M. Phil. Associate Professor, Physiology Department, Karachi Institute of Medical Sciences, Karachi, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Muhammad Adnan
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Kanpurwala
authors.affiliation: Dr. Nasim Karim, MBBS, M. Phil, Ph D, Post Doc. Professor and Head of Pharmacology Department, Bahria University Medical and Dental College, Karachi, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Nasim
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Karim
authors.affiliation: Dr. Jahan Ara Hasan, MBBS, FCPS, MCPS. Associate Professor, Gynecology and Obstetrics Department, Dow University of Health Sciences, Karachi, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Jahan Ara
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Hassan
keywords: Diet; Exercise; Gestational diabetes; Gross morphology; Metformin; Microscopic morphology; Placenta