Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Haemoglobin A1 in diabetic pregnancy: An evaluation

  • Published:
Irish Journal of Medical Science Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Summary

This propective study was undertaken to evaluate serial measurements of glycosylated haemoglobin (HbA1) as an index of control in diabetic pregnancy. Glucose and haemoglobin A1 were measured at weekly intervals throughout 88 pregnancies.

Levels of HbA1 and glucose correlated significantly. Elevated HbA1 levels in the second and third trimester and postnatally were associated with hydramnios. Other obstetrical complications were too few to permit meaningful correlations.

Smoking practice was associated with raised mean HbA1 levels in the first and second trimester. In patients of White’s Class A, smoking was strongly associated with lower birth weight and weight centile.

Foetal loss (abortion, stillbirth) or malformation correlated significantly with the mean HbA1 overall and with the mean HbA1 in the second trimester. Although the number of neonatal complications pertaining to an individual baby correlated with the mean HbA1 overall and with the mean HbA1 in the third trimester neither neonatal hypoglycaemia nor hyperbilirubinemia showed a correlation. Levels of HbA1 correlated with skinfold thickness but not with baby weight. The value of HbA1 as an index of diabetic control in pregnancy is discussed.

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

Access this article

Log in via an institution

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

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Baumgart, R., France, M. W., UaConaill, D., Murnaghan, S., Pereira, M. and Drury, M. I. 1980. An assessment of a micro-column chromatographic method for the measurement of haemoglobin A1. Ann. Clin. Bioch. 17(2), 101–104.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Drury, M. I. 1979. Diabetes mellitus and pregnancy —the nine month experiment. Postgrad. Med. J. 55, Suppl. 2, 36–9.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Dubowitz, L. M. S., Dubowitz, V. and Goldberg, C. 1970. Clinical assessment of gestational age in the newborn infant. J. Pediatr. 77, 1.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gabbay, K. H., Hasty, K., Breslow, J. L.et al. 1977. Glycosylated haemoglobin and longterm blood glucose control in diabetes mellitus. J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab. 44, 859.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gilmer, M. D. G., Beard, R. W., Brooke, F. M. and Oakley, N. W. 1975. Carbohydrate metabolism in pregnancy. Brit. Med. J. iii, 399–404.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gugliucci, C. L., O'Sullivan, M. J., Opperman, W., Gordon, M. and Stone, M. L. 1976. Intensive care of the pregnant diabetic. Amer. J. Obstet. and Gynec. 125, 435–41.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gyves, M. T &, Rodman, H. M., Little, A. B., Fanaroff, A. A. and Merkatz, L. R. 1977. A modern approach to management of pregnant diabetics: a two year analysis of perinatal outcomes. Amer. J. Obstet. and Gynec. 128, 606.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hayes, A., O'Brien, N. G. 1980. Standard for skin thickness in Irish newborn infants. J. Ir. Med. Assoc. 73, 170–172.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Karlsson, K. and Kjellmer, I. 1972. The outcome of diabetic pregnancies in relation to the mother’s blood sugar level. Am. J. Obstet. Gynaecol. 112, 213–220.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kjaergaard, J. J., Ditzel, J. 1979. Haemoglobin A1C as an index of long term blood glucose regulation in diabetic pregnancy. Diabetes 28, 694–696.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Leslie, R. D. G., Pyke, D. A., John, P. N. and White, J. M. 1978. Haemoglobin A1 in diabetic pregnancy. Lancet ii 958–959.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lind, T. and Cheyne, G. A. 1979. Effect of normal pregnancy upon the glycosylated haemoglobins. Brit. J. Obstet. Gynaecol. 86, 210–213.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mills, J. L., Baker, L. and Goldman, A. S. 1979. Malformation in infants of diabetic mothers occur before the seventh gestational week. Implications for treatment. Diabetes 28, 292–3.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • O'Shaughnessy, R., Russ, J. and Zuspan, F. P. 1979. Glycosylated haemoglobins and diabetes mellitus in pregnancy. Am. J. Obstet. Gynaecol. 135, 783–790.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pedersen, J. 1975. In: Early Diabetes in Early Life. Edited by R. A. Camerini-Davalos and H. S. Cole). p. 31, New York.

  • Pedersen, J. 1977. The Pregnant Diabetic and her Newborn. 2nd Edition. Williams and Wilkins. Baltimore. p. 126.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pennock, C. A. and Sheriff, R. J. 1981. Glycosylated haemoglobin in the assessment of diabetic control in pregnancy. J. Obstet. Gynaecol. 1, 153–156.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Person, B. 1974. Size at Birth. Associates Scientific Publishers. p. 247.

  • Pollak, A., Widness, J. A. and Schwartz, R. 1979. ‘Minor Haemoglobins’: an alternative approach for evaluating glucose control in pregnancy. Biol. Neonate. 36, 185–192.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Schwarz, R. H. 1977. Diabetes Mellitus, Perinatal Medicine. Management of the High Risk Foetus and Neonate. Edited by R. J. Bolognese, R. H. Schwarz. Baltimore. Williams and Wilkins. Pp. 220–227.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stubbs, S. M., Leslie, R. D. G., John, P. N., 1981. Fetal macrosomia and maternal diabetic control in pregnancy. Brit. Med. J. 282, 439–440.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Szabo, A. J., Szabo, O., 1974. Placental free-fatty-acid transfer and foetal adipose-tissue development: an explanation of foetal adiposity in infants of diabetic mothers. Lancet ii, 498.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Thomson, A. M., Billewicz, W. Z. and Hytten, F. E. 1968. The assessment of foetal growth. J. Obstet. Gynec. Brit. Cwith. 75, 903.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tyson, J. E., Hock, R. A. 1976. Gestational and pregestational diabetes: an approach to therapy. Am. J. Obstet. Gynaecol. 125, 1009.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Watkins, P. J. 1978. Diabetic control in pregnancy and labour. J. Royal Soc. Med. 71, 203–205.

    Google Scholar 

  • White, P. 1971. Pregnancy in Diabetes. Dr. Joslin’s Diabetes Mellitus, 11th Edition, Philadelphia. Lee and Febiger. pp. 581–98.

    Google Scholar 

  • White, P. 1974. Diabetes Mellitus in Pregnancy. Clinics in Perinatology 1, 331.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Whitelaw, A. 1977. Subcutaneous fat in newborn infants of diabetic mothers: an indication of quality of diabetic control. Lancet i, 15–8.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Widness, J. A., Schwartz, H. C., Thompson, D., Kahn, C. B., Oh, W. and Schwartz, R. 1978. Haemoglobin A1C in diabetic pregnancy: an indicator of glucose control and fetal size. Br. J. Obstet. Gynaecol. 85, 812.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Widness, J. A., Schwartz, H. C., Thompson, D., King, K. C., Kahn, C. B., Oh, W. and Schwartz, R. 1978. Glycohaemoglobin (HbA1C); a predictor of birth weight in infants of diabetic mothers. Journal of Paediatrics 92, 8–12.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ylinen, K., Raivio, K. and Teramo, K. 1981. Haemoglobin A1 predicts the perinatal outcome in insulin-dependent diabetic pregnancies. Br. J. Gynaecol. 88, 961–967.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Diabetes/Endocrine Unit, Mater Misericordiae Hospital, Dublin

    M. Sheridan-Pereira, M. I. Drury, R. Baumgart, D. Ua Conaill & M. W. France

  2. Department of Biochemistry, Mater Misericordiae Hospital, Dublin

    M. Sheridan-Pereira, M. I. Drury, R. Baumgart, D. Ua Conaill & M. W. France

  3. The National Maternity Hospital, Dublin

    M. Sheridan-Pereira, M. I. Drury, R. Baumgart, D. Ua Conaill & M. W. France

  4. The Rotunda Hospital, Dublin

    M. Sheridan-Pereira, M. I. Drury, R. Baumgart, D. Ua Conaill & M. W. France

  5. The Coombe Lying-in Hospital, Dublin

    M. Sheridan-Pereira, M. I. Drury, R. Baumgart, D. Ua Conaill & M. W. France

Authors
  1. M. Sheridan-Pereira
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. M. I. Drury
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. R. Baumgart
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. D. Ua Conaill
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. M. W. France
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Additional information

Supported by the Mater Hospital Diabetes Research Fund.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Sheridan-Pereira, M., Drury, M.I., Baumgart, R. et al. Haemoglobin A1 in diabetic pregnancy: An evaluation. I.J.M.S. 152, 261–267 (1983). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02954794

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02954794

Keywords

Search

Navigation