Skip to main content
Log in

Rigorous management of insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus during pregnancy

  • Originals
  • Published:
Acta Diabetologica Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The effect of rigorous management of insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) during pregnancy on the perinatal outcome was assessed by comparing 78 prepartum gravid patients with IDDM managed prospectively with 78 matched controls. The diabetic women were treated with insulin by either infusion pump or split-dose therapy, with the goal of normalization of the fasting blood sugars and hemoglobin Hb A1c values. Differences in the perinatal outcome were evaluated by either chi-square or analysis of variance. Of the women with IDDM, 14% where White class B, 43% class C, 26% class D, 17% classes R and F. The mean Hb A1c value in the first half of pregnancy was 8.49%±2.30%, and 7.34%±1.79% in the second half. Women with IDDM had higher rates of premature delivery (31% vs. 10%,P=0.003), pre-eclampsia (15% vs. 5%,P=0.035), and cesarean section (55% vs. 27%,P=0.002). Complications of infants born to diabetic mothers included large size for gestational age (41% vs. 16%,P=0.0002), hypoglycemia (14% vs. 1%,P=0.0025), hyperbilirubinemia (46% vs. 23%,P=0.0002), and respiratory distress (12% vs. 1%,P=0.008). The Apgar scores and mortality were similar. Congenital malformations occurred in 7.7% of infants of diabetic mothers and 1.3% of controls (P=0.05). The maternal Hb A1c level did not correlate with the infant size for gestation. Although the improved medical management of IDDM has decreased neonatal mortality, significant perinatal complications persist.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Pedersen J, Bandstrup E, Foetal mortality in pregnant diabetics: strict control of diabetes with conservative obstetric management. Lancet 1:607, 1956

    Google Scholar 

  2. Karlsson K, Kjellner I, The outcome of diabetic pregnancies in relation to the mother's blood sugar level. Am J Obstet Gynecol 112:213, 1972

    Google Scholar 

  3. Gabbe SG, Metman JH, Freeman RK, Goebelsmann UT, Lowensohn RI, Nochimson D, Cetrulo C, Quilligan EJ, Management and outcome in pregnancy in diabetes mellitus, classes B to R. Am J Obstet Gynecol 129:723, 1977

    Google Scholar 

  4. Jovanovic L, Peterson CM, Management of the pregnant insulin-dependent diabetic woman. Diabetes Care 3:63, 1980

    Google Scholar 

  5. Tsang RC, Ballard J, Braun C, The infant of the diabetic mother: today and tomorrow. Clin Obstet Gynecol 1:125, 1981

    Google Scholar 

  6. Miller E, Hare JW, Cloherty JP, Dunn PJ, Gleason RE, Soeldner S, Kitzmiller JL, Elevated materal hemoglobin A1c in early pregnancy and major congenital anomalies in infants of diabetic mothers. N Engl J Med 304:1331, 1981

    Google Scholar 

  7. Mills JL, Knopp RH, Simpson JL, Jovanovic-Peterson L, Metzger BE, Holmes LB, Aarons JH, Brown Z, Reed GF, Bieber FR, Van Allen M, Holzman I, Ober C, Peterson CM, Withiam MJ, Duckles A, Mueller-Heubach E, Polk BF, NICHD Diabetes in Early Pregnancy Study, Lack of relation of increased malformations rates in infants of diabetic mothers to glycemic control during organogenesis. N Engl J Med 318:671, 1988

    Google Scholar 

  8. Landon MB, Gabbe SG, Piana R, Mennuti MT, Main EK, Neonatal morbidity in pregnancy complicated by diabetes mellitus: predictive value of maternal glycemic profiles. Am J Obstet Gynecol 156:1089, 1987

    Google Scholar 

  9. Berk MA, Mimouni F, Miodovnik M, Hertzberg V, Valuck J, Macrosomia in infants of insulin-dependent diabetic mothers. Pediatrics 83:1029, 1989

    Google Scholar 

  10. Lin CC, River J, River P, Blix P, Moawad AH, Good diabetic control early in pregnancy and favorable fetal outcome. Obstet Gynecol 67:51, 1986

    Google Scholar 

  11. Menon RK, Cohen RM, Sperling MA, Cutfield WS, Mimouni F, Khoury JC, Transplacental passage of insulin in pregnant women with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus-its role in fetal macrosomia. N Engl J Med 323:309, 1990

    Google Scholar 

  12. Drury MI, Management of the pregnant diabetic patient. Are the pundits right? Diabetologia 29:10, 1986

    Google Scholar 

  13. Molsted-Pedersen L, Kuhl C, Obstetrical management in diabetic pregnancy: the Copenhagen experience. Diabetologia 29:13, 1986

    Google Scholar 

  14. Small M, Cassidy L, Leiper JM, Paterson KR, Luman CB, MacCuish AC, Outcome of pregnancy in insulin-dependent (type I) diabetic women between 1971 and 1984. Q J Med 61:1159, 1986

    Google Scholar 

  15. Furhman K, Reiher H, Semmler K, Fischer F, Fischer M, Glockner E, Prevention of congenital malformations in infants of insulin-dependent diabetic mothers. Diabetes Care 6:219, 1983

    Google Scholar 

  16. Goldman IA, Dicker D, Feldberg D, Yeshaya A, Samuel N, Karp M, Pregnancy outcome in patients with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus with preconceptual diabetic control: a comparative study. Am J Obstet Gynecol 155:293, 1986

    Google Scholar 

  17. Damm P, Molsted-Pedersen L, Significant decrease in congenital malformation in newborn infants of an unselected population of diabetic women. Am J Obstet Gynecol 161:1163, 1989

    Google Scholar 

  18. White P, Pregnancy and diabetes, medical aspects. Med Clin North Am 49:1015, 1965

    Google Scholar 

  19. Dubowitz LM, Dubowitz V, Goldberg C, Clinical assessment of gestational age in the newborn infant. J Pediatr 77:1, 1970

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Aucott, S.W., Williams, T.G., Hertz, R.H. et al. Rigorous management of insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus during pregnancy. Acta Diabetol 31, 126–129 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00570364

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00570364

Key words

Navigation