Endocrine Abstracts

Introduction: Gestational diabetes and maternal obesity have long been regarded as risk factors for pregnancy. The amount of weight gained during pregnancy can affect the immediate and future health of a woman and her infant [1]. The objective of our study is to evaluate the impact of maternal weight status on the glycemic profile of women followed for gestational diabetes.

Materials and methods: This is a retrospective study over three years, including 25 patients hospitalized for gestational diabetes in Endocrinology-Diabetology Department of University Hospital Center in Oujda, Morocco.

Results: The mean age of our patients was 33 years ±6.08 (21 to 44 years). Mean gestational age of GD discovery was 27.27 weeks of amenorrhea. Mean pre-gestational BMI was of 27.45±2.42 kg/m². The average weight gain was 7.33±2.08 kg. According to the pre-pregnancy BMI, 4.9% were underweight, 44% were of normal weight, 46.1% were overweight and 5% were obese. Pre-pregnancy BMI was higher in women with excessive gestational weight gain (32.23±2.81 kg/m²) and overweight gestational weight gain (GWG) (27.99±1.62) than in women with adequate weight (22.9±1.2 kg/m²). The level of glycated hemoglobin was higher in women with excessive GWG (5.46±0.92%) than in women with overweight gestational weight gain (4.5±0.23). After delivery, 14.8% newborns of excessive gestational weight gain were macrosomes with neonatal hypoglycemia in one newborn.

Discussion: Maternal, perinatal and neonatal complications are strongly associated with gestational diabetes mellitus. Women who are followed for gestational diabetes are at risk of maternal and neonatal complications during pregnancy. And the association of pregestational overweight or obesity with excessive gestational weight gain may aggravate this risk. In addition, compared with GWG within the Institute of Medicine (IOM) recommendations, excessive GWG increased the incidence of cesarean section and infant macrosomia, while inadequate GWG decreased the incidence of LGA [2].

References: [1] Siega-Riz AM, Viswanathan M, Moos MK, Deierlein A, Mumford S, Knaack J, et al. A systematic review of outcomes of maternal weight gain according to the Institute of Medicine recommendations: birthweight, fetal growth, and postpartum weight retention. Am J Obstet Gynecol 2009;201:339.e1–14

[2] Weight gain during pregnancy. Committee Opinion No. 548. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Obstet Gynecol 2013;121:210–2.