Endocrine Abstracts

Hyperglycaemia is one of the most common medical conditions women encounter during pregnancy. The occurrence of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is rising and it represents an important modifiable risk factor for adverse pregnancy outcomes. Similar to GDM, excessive weight gain is associated with a number of undesirable consequences for both the mother and neonate. The aim of this study was to evaluate prevalence of GDM in outpatient practice and investigate associations between glucose metabolism and gestational weight gain (GWG) during pregnancy.

Methods: We analysed retrospective data of all adult pregnant women who were followed up in Vilnius Karoliniskiu clinic, Lithuania and gave birth in 2016. GDM was diagnosed using the UK National Institute for Health Care Excellence (NICE) criteria. GWG was categorized as low, appropriate and excessive according to Institute of Medicine Guidelines.

Results: Data of 415 women were analysed. Mean age at delivery was 30.14±5.13 years. The first antenatal visit was at 11.64±4.47 gestational week. Oral glucose tolerance test was performed at 26.62±4.14 gestational week. A total of 86 women (21%) were diagnosed with GDM and 4 (1%) had overt diabetes in pregnancy. 15.1% of women having GDM were normal weight, 33.3% – overweight, 51.6% – obese. Overweight and obese women had 3.68 (95% CI 2.21–6.11) times higher odds ratio for developing GDM comparing with underweight or normal weight women (P<0.0001). Mean total GWG was higher in underweight and normal weight women group than that in overweight and obese women group (13.87±4.85 vs 11.59±5.88 kg (P=0.001)). Mean total GWG was higher in normal glucose tolerance group compared to GDM group (13.73±4.84 vs 12.15±6.09 kg (P=0.03)). Excessive GWG have had one-third (33.1%) of all women. Excessive GWG was more frequent in GDM group than in healthy women (45.9% vs 30.1%, P=0.009).

Conclusions: This audit presents a relatively high prevalence of GDM in everyday outpatient practice. Overweight and obesity significantly increases risk of GDM. Compliance with lifestyle guidelines helps women with GDM to control weight gain during pregnancy, nevertheless excessive gestational weight gain is still more frequent in women with GDM.