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Metabolomics of Diabetes in Pregnancy

  • Diabetes and Pregnancy (MF Hivert, Section Editor)
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Abstract

Purpose of review

The purpose of this review is to describe ways in which metabolomics may enhance understanding of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) etiology and refine current diagnostic criteria.

Recent findings

Current clinical recommendations suggest screening for GDM between 24 and 28 of gestational weeks using an oral glucose tolerance test. Despite this consensus, there are discrepancies regarding the exact criteria for GDM diagnosis. Further, emerging evidence has unveiled heterogeneous physiological pathways underlying GDM—specifically, GDM with defective insulin secretion vs. sensitivity—that have important implications for disease diagnosis and management.

Summary

The objectives of this review are threefold. First, we seek to provide a brief summary of current knowledge regarding GDM pathophysiology. Next, we describe the potential role of metabolomics to refine and improve the prediction, screening, and diagnosis of GDM. Finally, we propose ways in which metabolomics may eventually impact clinical care and risk assessment for GDM and its comorbidities.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Nutritional Sciences, University of Michigan School of Public Health, 1415 Washington Heights, Ann Arbor, MI, USA

    Carolyn F. McCabe & Wei Perng

  2. Department of Epidemiology, University of Michigan School of Public Health, 1415 Washington Heights, Ann Arbor, MI, USA

    Wei Perng

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  1. Carolyn F. McCabe
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  2. Wei Perng
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Correspondence to Wei Perng.

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Carolyn F. McCabe and Wei Perng declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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This article does not contain any studies with human or animal subjects performed by any of the authors.

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This article is part of the Topical Collection on Diabetes and Pregnancy

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McCabe, C.F., Perng, W. Metabolomics of Diabetes in Pregnancy. Curr Diab Rep 17, 57 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11892-017-0890-3

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