Prevalence and severity of diabetic retinopathy in pregnant women with diabetes-time to individualize photo screening frequency.

AIMS: To evaluate the prevalence and severity of diabetic retinopathy including macular oedema in pregnant women with diabetes and to identify women in whom the frequency of retinal screening can be reduced to minimize the burden of health care visits. METHODS: A cohort study of 348 women with pre-existing diabetes were routinely screened with retinal photo in early (12 weeks) and late pregnancy (27 weeks). Diabetic retinopathy was classified in five stages in accordance with National Danish Guidelines based on the eye with the highest retinopathy level. Sight-threatening retinopathy was defined as the presence of proliferative retinopathy and/or clinically significant macular oedema (CSMO). RESULTS: Retinopathy was present in 52% (116/223) vs. 14% (17/125), with sight-threatening retinopathy in 16% (35/223) vs. 6% (7/125) of women with type 1 and type 2, respectively. Women without retinopathy in early and late pregnancy were characterized by shorter diabetes duration (p < 0.0001 and p = 0.008) and predominance of type 2 diabetes. Amongst the 50% (175/348) of the cohort having no retinopathy in early pregnancy and HbA1c<53 mmol/mol (7.0%), none developed sight-threatening retinopathy and 94% (165/175) remained without any retinopathy during pregnancy. Development of sight-threatening retinopathy was mainly observed in women with retinopathy in early pregnancy. Treatment for sight-threatening retinopathy was given to a minority (2.7 and 2.4%, respectively). CONCLUSION: Good glycaemic control and no retinopathy was seen in a large proportion of women in early pregnancy and none of these women developed sight-threatening retinopathy. The frequency of retinal screening can probably be safely reduced during pregnancy in these women.

Physical activity, sedentary behavior and development of preeclampsia in women with preexisting diabetes.

AIMS: To explore the association between physical activity in early pregnancy and development of preeclampsia in women with preexisting diabetes. METHODS: In a prospective cohort study of 189 women with preexisting diabetes (110 type 1 and 79 type 2 diabetes), physical activity during pregnancy including sedentary behavior was evaluated with the Pregnancy Physical Activity Questionnaire. Primary outcome was preeclampsia. Secondary outcomes were preterm delivery, large and small for gestational age infants. RESULTS: Women developing preeclampsia (n = 23) had higher diastolic blood pressure in early pregnancy (mean 82 ± 9 SD vs. 77 ± 8, p = 0.004) and were more often nulliparous (91 vs. 52%, p < 0.001) compared with the remaining women (n = 166). Total physical activity in early pregnancy was similar between the groups (median 148 metabolic equivalent of task hours per week (MET-h/week) (interquartile range 118-227) versus 153 (121-205), p = 0.97). In early pregnancy, women developing preeclampsia reported a higher level of sedentary behavior (15 MET-h/week (7-18) versus 7 (4-15); p = 0.04); however, when adjusting for parity, diastolic blood pressure and smoking, the association attenuated (p = 0.13). Total physical activity and sedentary behavior in early pregnancy were not associated with preterm delivery, large or small for gestational age infants. CONCLUSIONS: Among women with diabetes, sedentary behavior was reported higher in early pregnancy in women developing preeclampsia compared with the remaining women, while total physical activity was similar. Sedentary behavior was a predictor of preeclampsia in the univariate analysis, but not in the multiple regression analysis, and larger studies are needed to evaluate this possible modifiable risk factor. Trial registration The study was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (ID: NCT02890836).

Parenteral nutrition and insulin per protocol improve diabetes management after total pancreatectomy.

INTRODUCTION: Pancreatogenic diabetes develops in patients undergoing total pancreatectomy and complicates post-surgical management. The aim of this study was to compare parenteral nutrition (PN) with protocolled insulin treatment to intravenous glucose treatment after total pancreatectomy. METHODS: This was a retrospective study of 97 patients undergoing total pancreatectomy between 2009 and 2014. Patients were divided into a PN cohort (n = 57) and a glucose cohort (n = 40). The PN cohort was given PN with one international unit (IU) rapid-acting insulin per 10 g of carbohydrate. The glucose cohort was given a continuous 5% glucose infusion with 2 IU rapid-acting insulin per 10 g of carbohydrate. Both cohorts were given insulin detemir 0.2 IU/kg/day. RESULTS: Within the first 13 post-operative days, plasma glucose values were within the target range (4.0-10.0 mmol/l) in the PN cohort more frequently than in the glucose cohort (46% versus 42%, p = 0.01) without any increase in hypoglycaemia. Non-infectious complications occurred less frequently in the parenteral cohort than in the glucose cohort (23% versus 43%, p = 0.04). Infectious complications occurred in 19% versus 33% of patients, respectively (p = 0.14). The mean length of hospitalisation was 19.8 ± 12.7 versus 25.0 ± 21.5 days, p = 0.14. CONCLUSIONS: After total pancreatectomy, PN with insulin treatment per protocol improves glycaemic control compared with glucose infusion and reduces the number of non-infectious post-operative complications without increasing hypoglycaemia. FUNDING: none. TRIAL REGISTRATION: not relevant.

[Metformin and the obstetric patient]. / Metformin og obstetriske patienter

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is associated with insulin resistance, infertility, obesity and gestational complications. Metformin is widely used in fertility treatment of women with PCOS, due to a suggested positive effect of continued metformin treatment beyond the first trimester on pregnancy complications. Larger randomized trials have failed to confirm this. Metformin treatment has not been found to be superior to insulin treatment in women with gestational diabetes and may be associated with long-term consequences in the children in the form of overweight and disturbed glucose metabolism.