Multiple positive points during the 75 g oral glucose tolerance test are good predictors for early insulin therapy in gestational diabetes mellitus diagnosed before 24 gestational weeks.

AIMS/INTRODUCTION: This study evaluated the risk factors for insulin therapy before 24 gestational weeks (early insulin therapy) in pregnant women with gestational diabetes diagnosed before 24 gestational weeks (E-GDM). MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study included 530 singleton mothers with E-GDM who underwent a 75 g oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) in the first trimester at Keio University Hospital between January 2013 and December 2021. E-GDM can be classified according to its management into only diet therapy until delivery (Diet E-GDM), insulin therapy started before 24 gestational weeks (EarlyIns E-GDM), and insulin therapy started after 24 gestational weeks (LateIns E-GDM). We analyzed the risk factors for EarlyIns E-GDM. RESULTS: Patients with EarlyIns E-GDM had a significantly higher maternal age at delivery, pre-pregnancy BMI, first trimester hemoglobin A1c, 1 h plasma glucose levels (1 h-PG), and 2 h-PG, as well as a more pronounced initial increase and subsequent decrease, compared with those in the Diet E-GDM group. However, the Apgar scores at both 1 and 5 min were significantly lower in patients with EarlyIns E-GDM than in those with Diet E-GDM. The number of abnormal values in the OGTT showed the largest area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) for predicting EarlyIns E-GDM (0.83, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.79-0.86), followed by the 1 h-PG value (AUC: 0.81, 95% CI: 0.77-0.85). The initial increase showed the third largest AUC (0.78, 95% CI: 0.74-0.82). CONCLUSIONS: Although further research is needed, our data suggest the importance of early insulin therapy in cases of E-GDM with multiple abnormal OGTT values, especially with high 1 h-PG levels and initial increase.

Perinatal Outcomes of Diet Therapy in Gestational Diabetes Mellitus Diagnosed before 24 Gestational Weeks.

To evaluate perinatal outcomes and risk factors for large for gestational age (LGA; birth weight over 90 percentile) in gestational diabetes diagnosed before 24 gestational weeks and treated with diet therapy alone until delivery (Diet Early gestational diabetes mellitus (Diet Early GDM)), we assessed the maternal characteristics and perinatal outcomes of patients with early GDM (n = 309) and normal glucose tolerance (NGT; n = 309) at Keio University Hospital. The gestational weight gain (GWG) expected at 40 weeks was significantly lower in the Diet Early GDM group than in the NGT group. The Diet Early GDM group exhibited a significantly lower incidence of low birth weight (<2500 g) and higher Apgar score at 5 min than the NGT group. Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that the pre-pregnancy body mass index and GWG expected at 40 weeks were significantly associated with LGA for Diet Early GDM. No differences were observed in random plasma glucose levels in the first trimester, 75 g oral glucose tolerance test values, and initial increase or subsequent decrease between the two groups. Dietary early GDM did not exhibit a worse prognosis than NGT. To prevent LGA, it might be important to control maternal body weight not only during pregnancy but also before conception.