Plasma AGE and Oxidation Products, Renal Function, and Preeclampsia in Pregnant Women with Type 1 Diabetes: A Prospective Observational Study.

Aims: We aimed to determine whether plasma advanced glycation end products or oxidation products (AGE/oxidation-P) predict altered renal function and/or preeclampsia (PE) in pregnant women with type 1 diabetes. Methods: Prospectively, using a nested case-control design, we studied 47 pregnant women with type 1 diabetes, of whom 23 developed PE and 24 did not. Nineteen nondiabetic, normotensive pregnant women provided reference values. In plasma obtained at ~12, 22, and 32 weeks' gestation (visits 1, 2, and 3; V1-V3), we measured five AGE products (carboxymethyllysine (CML), carboxyethyl-lysine (CEL), methylglyoxal-hydroimidazolone (MGH1), 3-deoxyglucosone hydroimidazolone (3DGH), and glyoxal-hydroimidazolone (GH1)) and four oxidation products (methionine sulfoxide (MetSO), 2-aminoadipic acid (2-AAA), 3-nitrotyrosine (3NT), and dityrosine (DT)), by liquid chromatography/mass spectroscopy. Clinical outcomes were "estimated glomerular filtration rate" (eGFR) at each visit and onset of PE. Results: In diabetic women, associations between AGE/oxidation-P and eGFR were found only in those who developed PE. In this group, CEL, MGH1, and GH1 at V2 and CML, CEL, MGH1, and GH1 at V3 were inversely associated with contemporaneous eGFR, while CEL, MGH1, 3DGH, and GH1 at V2 were inversely associated with eGFR at V3 (all p < 0.05). There were no associations of plasma AGE or oxidation-P with pregnancy-related development of proteinuria or PE. Conclusions: Inverse associations of second and early third trimester plasma AGE with eGFR among type 1 diabetic women who developed PE suggest that these patients constitute a subset susceptible to AGE-mediated injury and thus to cardiorenal complications later in life. However, AGE/oxidation-P did not predict PE in type 1 diabetic women.

Priorities to improve woman-centred gestational diabetes mellitus care: A qualitative study to compare views between clinical and consumer end-users.

BACKGROUND: Immigrants worldwide have a two-fold higher risk of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) than women of the host country. Providing culturally appropriate woman-centred GDM care to attenuate adverse maternal and neonatal health outcomes is a persistent challenge for health services. Underpinned by the Knowledge to Action Framework, understanding and comparing the views of patients from different ethnic backgrounds and healthcare professionals (HCPs) about current and optimal GDM care can highlight priority areas to improve woman-centred care. This qualitative study aimed to compare the views of ethnic Chinese and Australian-born Caucasian women and their HCPs, including endocrinologists, obstetricians, midwives, diabetes nurse educators and dietitians, about what constitutes optimal GDM care and how to improve woman-centred GDM care. METHODS: Purposive sampling was used to recruit 42 Chinese and 30 Caucasian women with GDM and 17 HCPs from two large Australian hospital maternity services to complete in-depth, semi-structured interviews. Patients' and HCPs' views were thematically analysed and compared. RESULTS: Four out of nine themes showed misalignments between patients' and HCPs' views on GDM care, reflecting priority areas to improve woman-centred care by (i) reaching agreement on the attitudes towards different treatment targets between HCPs; (ii) enhancing inter-professional communication; (iii) improving GDM care transition to postpartum care; and (iv) providing detailed dietary advice tailored to Chinese patients' cultural diet. CONCLUSIONS: Further research on reaching consensus on treatment targets, enhancing inter-professional communication, developing a perinatal care transition model from pregnancy to postpartum, and developing Chinese patient-oriented educational resources is required to improve woman-centred care.

Prevalence of diabetic retinopathy in women with pregestational diabetes during pregnancy and the postpartum.

BACKGROUND: Diabetic retinopathy (DR) may be affected by pregnancy. The majority of prevalence data regarding DR in pregnancy predate the advent of contemporary guidelines for diabetes management during pregnancy. This study reports DR prevalence and associated risk factors in women with pregestational diabetes during pregnancy and the postpartum in Australia. METHODS: A total of 172 pregnant women with type 1 (T1DM) or type 2 diabetes diagnosed pre-pregnancy were prospectively recruited from two obstetrics hospitals in Melbourne (November 2017-March 2020). Eye examinations were scheduled in each trimester, at 3-, 6-, and 12-months postpartum. DR severity was graded from two-field fundus photographs by an independent grader utilising the Airlie House Classification. Sight-threatening DR (STDR) was defined as the presence of diabetic macular oedema or proliferative DR. RESULTS: Overall, 146 (84.9%) women had at least one eye examination during pregnancy. The mean age was 33.8 years (range 19-51), median diabetes duration was 7.0 years (IQR 3.0-17.0), 71 women (48.6%) had T1DM. DR and STDR prevalence during pregnancy per 100 eyes was 24.3 (95% CI 19.7-29.6) and 9.0 (95% CI 6.1-12.9); while prevalence in the postpartum was 22.2 (95% CI 16.5-29.3) and 10.0 (95% CI 5.4-17.9), respectively. T1DM, longer diabetes duration, higher HbA1c in early pregnancy, and pre-existing nephropathy were significant risk factors. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of DR in pregnant women was similar to the non-pregnant diabetic population in Australia. One in nine participants had STDR during pregnancy and the postpartum, highlighting the need to optimise DR management guidelines in pregnancy given the significant risk of vision loss.

Paraganglioma in pregnancy: A case series and literature review.

Paragangliomas are rare neuroendocrine neoplasms which are often catecholamine-secreting and associated with familial syndromes. Described here are three women with a variety of pathology: isolated secretory paraganglioma diagnosed in pregnancy, secretory metastatic paraganglioma in pregnancy and non-secretory metastatic paraganglioma in pregnancy. Whilst paragangliomas are associated with morbidity and mortality during pregnancy, good maternal and fetal outcomes can be achieved through individualised care within the context of a multidisciplinary team. Although paragangliomas are associated with morbidity and mortality in pregnancy, good maternal and fetal outcomes can be achieved through individualised care within the context of a multidisciplinary team.

Impact of preconception weight loss on fasting glucose and pregnancy outcomes in women with obesity: A randomized trial.

OBJECTIVE: This study examined the effectiveness of a nonsurgical, preconception weight loss intervention on pregnancy outcomes in women with obesity. METHODS: This was a two-arm, parallel-group randomized controlled trial. A total of 164 women with BMI 30 to 55 kg/m2 who were aged 18 to 38 years and planning pregnancy were randomized to a 12-week standard dietary intervention (SDI; n = 79) or a modified very low-energy diet (VLED; n = 85). Participants were observed for ≤48 weeks while trying for pregnancy and then during pregnancy. The primary outcome was maternal fasting plasma glucose at 26 to 28 weeks' gestation. Exploratory outcomes were individual and composite obesity-related adverse pregnancy outcomes. RESULTS: Weight loss was greater in the VLED group (SDI 3.2 [0.6] kg vs. VLED 13.0 [0.5] kg, p < 0.01). In completers who had a singleton live birth (SDI 22/79 vs. VLED 35/85, p = 0.10), there was no difference in fasting glucose at 26 to 28 weeks' gestation (SDI 4.8[0.2] mmol/L vs. VLED 4.6 [0.1] mmol/L, p = 0.42). However, the composite of adverse pregnancy outcomes was significantly lower in the VLED group (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Substantial prepregnancy weight loss in women with obesity does not alter fasting glucose at 26 to 28 weeks' gestation but does reduce a composite of adverse pregnancy outcomes. A better understanding of metabolic changes in pregnancy after preconception weight loss may assist in improving maternal and neonatal health outcomes.

Women with type 1 diabetes and women with type 2 diabetes differ in knowledge and beliefs about contraception and pregnancy.

AIMS: To assess differences in knowledge and beliefs about pregnancy in women with diabetes. METHODS: Questions were from the Australian 'Contraception, Pregnancy & Women's Health' survey. Women (18-50 years) were eligible if pregnant or planning pregnancy. Knowledge and beliefs items were adapted from the Reproductive Health and Behaviours Questionnaire. RESULTS: Compared to women with type 2 diabetes (n = 103), women with type 1 diabetes (n = 526) had higher scores for knowledge about pregnancy in diabetes (type 1 diabetes 9.8 ± 2.4 vs. type 2 diabetes 7.7 ± 3.1), beliefs about benefits (type 1 diabetes 18.4 ± 2.2 vs. type 2 diabetes 17.2 ± 3.3), cues-to-action (type 1 diabetes 2.7 ± 1.4 vs. type 2 diabetes 1.5 ± 1.3) and self-efficacy (type 1 diabetes 22.6 ± 5.5 vs. type 2 diabetes 20.2 ± 6.1 (all p < 0.001) regarding preparing for pregnancy. Major knowledge gaps were the need for higher dose folate compared to women without diabetes and uncertainty about breastfeeding recommendations. Women with type 1 diabetes believed more strongly in the benefits of 'close to target' glucose levels prior to pregnancy and using contraception to prevent unplanned pregnancy; they also felt more confident to access pre-pregnancy care and to wait for optimal glycaemia before pregnancy. Women with type 2 diabetes were less aware of contraceptive choices, and risks associated with hyperglycaemia before or early in pregnancy. CONCLUSIONS: The findings highlighted main gaps in knowledge and beliefs about planning for pregnancy. Especially in type 2 diabetes, there is a need for evidence-based messaging and strategies addressing these gaps, to raise understanding to prepare for future pregnancies.

Bone Measures by Dual-Energy X-Ray Absorptiometry and Peripheral Quantitative Computed Tomography in Young Women With Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus.

Understanding bone fragility in young adult females with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) is of great clinical importance since the high fracture risk in this population remains unexplained. This study aimed to investigate bone health in young adult T1DM females by comparing relevant variables determined by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA), peripheral quantitative computed tomography (pQCT) at the tibia and pQCT-based finite element analysis (pQCT-FEA) between T1DM subjects (n = 21) and age-, height- and weight-matched controls (n = 63). Tibial trabecular density (lower by 7.1%; 228.8 ± 33.6 vs 246.4 ± 31.8 mg/cm3, p = 0.02) and cortical thickness (lower by 7.3%; 3.8 ± 0.5 vs 4.1 ± 0.5 cm, p = 0.03) by pQCT were significantly lower in T1DM subjects than in controls. Tibial shear stiffness by pQCT-FEA was also lower in T1DM subjects than in controls at both the 4% site (by 17.1%; 337.4 ± 75.5 vs 407.1 ± 75.4 kN/mm, p < 0.01) and 66% site (by 7.9%; 1113.0 ± 158.6 vs 1208.8 ± 161.8 kN/mm, p = 0.03). These differences remained statistically significant after adjustment for confounding factors. No difference between groups was observed in DXA-determined variables (all p ≥ 0.08), although there was a trend towards lower aBMD at the lumbar spine in T1DM subjects than in controls after adjustment for confounders (p = 0.053). These novel findings elicited using pQCT and pQCT-FEA suggest a clinically significant impact of T1DM on bone strength in young adult females with T1DM. Peripheral QCT and pQCT-FEA may provide more information than DXA alone on bone fragility in this population. Further longitudinal studies with a larger sample size are warranted to understand the evolution and causes of bone fragility in young T1DM females.

Time to pregnancy after a prepregnancy very-low-energy diet program in women with obesity: substudy of a randomized controlled trial.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the impact of a prepregnancy very-low-energy diet (VLED) program on time to pregnancy in women with obesity. DESIGN: Substudy of a two-arm parallel group randomized controlled trial. SETTING: Multiple tertiary care centers. PATIENT(S): Women 18-38 years old with obesity (body mass index 30-55 kg/m2) and planning conception. INTERVENTION(S): One hundred sixty-four normoglycemic women with body mass index 30-55 kg/m2, aged 18-38 years, and planning pregnancy were recruited through a social media platform for a two-arm randomized controlled trial. Women were allocated to a 12-week standard dietary intervention (SDI) or modified VLED. Completers of the intervention were observed for up to 48 weeks, and time to pregnancy was recorded. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): The prespecified exploratory outcome for this substudy was time to pregnancy between the completion of the 12-week intervention and the date of conception. RESULT(S): Maternal weight loss at the end of the 12-week intervention was 3.1% in the SDI group and 11.9% in the VLED group. In completers of the 12-week intervention, time to pregnancy was significantly shorter in the women allocated to the VLED group than in the SDI group. Post hoc analysis showed that this difference in time to conception was particularly overt within 90 days of the intervention. CONCLUSION(S): A VLED program that achieves substantial weight loss before conception reduces time to pregnancy compared with an SDI in women with obesity. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: ACTRN12614001160628.

Vitamin D Metabolites and Binding Protein Predict Preeclampsia in Women with Type 1 Diabetes.

The risk for preeclampsia (PE) is enhanced ~4-fold by the presence of maternal type 1 diabetes (T1DM). Vitamin D is essential for healthy pregnancy. We assessed the total, bioavailable, and free concentrations of plasma 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D), 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D (1,25(OH)2D), and vitamin D binding protein (VDBP) at ~12, ~22, and ~32 weeks' gestation ("Visits" (V) 1, 2, and 3, respectively) in 23 T1DM women who developed PE, 24 who remained normotensive, and 19 non-diabetic, normotensive women (reference controls). 25(OH)D deficiency was more frequent in diabetic than non-diabetic women (69% vs. 22%, p < 0.05), but no measure of 25(OH)D predicted PE. By contrast, higher 1,25(OH)2D concentrations at V2 (total, bioavailable, and free: p < 0.01) and V3 (bioavailable: p < 0.05; free: p < 0.01), lower concentrations of VDBP at V3 (p < 0.05), and elevated ratios of 1,25(OH)2D/VDBP (V2, V3: p < 0.01) and 1,25(OH)2D/25(OH)D (V3, p < 0.05) were all associated with PE, and significance persisted in multivariate analyses. In summary, in women with T1DM, concentrations of 1,25(OH)2D were higher, and VDBP lower, in the second and third trimesters in women who later developed PE than in those who did not. 1,25(OH)2D may serve as a new marker for PE risk and could be implicated in pathogenesis.

Factors associated with breastfeeding to 3 months postpartum among women with type 1 and type 2 diabetes mellitus: An exploratory study.

PROBLEM: Breastfeeding has significant health benefits for maternal and infant health, yet women with pre-pregnancy diabetes (type 1 or type 2 diabetes mellitus) are often less likely to breastfeed compared with other childbearing women. BACKGROUND: Intention to breastfeed and making the decision to breastfeed during pregnancy are significant predictors of breastfeeding in the general population, but intention to breastfeed has not been assessed during pregnancy among women with pre-pregnancy diabetes. AIM: To investigate factors associated with breastfeeding to three months postpartum, including demographic, health and reproductive characteristics, perceived support and pre-birth intention to breastfeed, among women with pre-pregnancy diabetes. METHODS: A prospective cohort of women with pre-pregnancy diabetes was recruited at three metropolitan hospitals in Melbourne, Australia. Women completed surveys during the third trimester of pregnancy (including intention to breastfeed) and at approximately 3 months postpartum (including current breastfeeding). Factors associated with any breastfeeding at 3 months postpartum were investigated using logistic regression. FINDINGS: Pregnancy surveys were completed by 79 women; three-month postpartum data were available for 47 women. Of these, more than two-thirds (n=32, 68%) indicated that they were breastfeeding. Controlling for other relevant variables, only pre-birth intention to breastfeed was significantly associated with any breastfeeding at three months (Adjusted Odds Ratio (95% confidence intervals, p)=20.49 (20.18-20.80, 0.017)). DISCUSSION: Pre-birth intention to breastfeed was the only significant predictor of continued breastfeeding to 3 months postpartum. CONCLUSION: Pregnancy provides an important opportunity for health professionals to educate and support women with pre-pregnancy diabetes about their breastfeeding intentions.

Ethnic Differences in Dietary Management of Gestational Diabetes Mellitus: A Mixed Methods Study Comparing Ethnic Chinese Immigrants and Australian Women.

BACKGROUND: Dietary modification is the primary intervention strategy for management of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), which usually occurs in the third trimester of pregnancy when women have extra nutritional needs. There is a high migration rate of ethnic Chinese people to Western countries, and those women present a high-risk group for GDM. Little is known about diet, dietary self-management, and nutritional supplementation use among ethnic Chinese migrant women with GDM compared with members of the host population with GDM. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to compare the perceptions and experiences of dietary self-management and nutritional needs of ethnic Chinese migrants with those of Australian-born white women with GDM in Australia. DESIGN: A predominantly qualitative mixed methods approach with a quantitative component was used. Data collection involved in-depth, semistructured interviews, and 3-day 24-hour recall diaries collected concurrently. Data analysis and management relied on NVivo (QSR International Pty Ltd), FoodWorks (FoodWorks Professional 2017, Xyris Software), and SPSS (SPSS Inc). Pearson χ2 test, independent-samples t test, and Mann-Whitney U test were used to compare nutrient intakes between groups. The Pearson correlation was used to determine the relationship between dietary patterns and nutrient intake. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 44 ethnic Chinese and 39 Australian-born white participants with GDM were recruited from two large Australian maternity services located in tertiary hospitals. RESULTS: Ethnic differences in satisfaction with GDM education influenced GDM self-management. Ethnic Chinese women with GDM perceived dietary advice received from health professionals to be lacking in cultural relevance and detail and responded by restricting their dietary intake and relying on nutritional supplementation. The perceived benefits of specific supplements produced ethnic differences in the patterns of supplement use. Cultural dietary patterns influenced dietary adequacy in pregnancy. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests the need for provision of more concrete, prescriptive, and culturally relevant dietary and supplementation advice for ethnic Chinese women with GDM.

Pregnancy outcomes among women with type 1 diabetes mellitus using continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion versus multiple daily injections: A retrospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Insulin delivery options for pregnant women with type 1 diabetes mellitus are either continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion or multiple daily injections. The aim of this paper is to compare pregnancy outcomes in women with type 1 diabetes mellitus using continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion or multiple daily injections in pregnancy. METHODS: Retrospective single-centre cohort study of 298 pregnancies booked between 2006 and 2016. Descriptive analysis was performed for HbA1c values. Logistic regression models were created to compare selected maternal and neonatal outcomes. RESULTS: Continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion was associated with increased risk of large-for-gestational age (aOR 2.00, 95% CI 1.20-3.34) and preterm neonates (aOR 1.80, 95% CI 1.04-3.03). Continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion had no association with increased risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes. No difference in HbA1c values existed between groups. CONCLUSION: Using continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion for type 1 diabetes mellitus through pregnancy is associated with increased risk of large-for-gestational age and preterm neonates, without increased risk of associated adverse maternal or neonatal outcomes.

Psychosocial wellbeing among new mothers with diabetes: Exploratory analysis of the postnatal wellbeing in transition questionnaire.

OBJECTIVE: The Postnatal Wellbeing in Transition (PostTrans) Questionnaire assesses psychosocial wellbeing among women transitioning to motherhood while managing pre-existing diabetes. Face and content validity have been previously reported; however the PostTrans questionnaire has 51 items which imposes a substantial burden on respondents. The aim of this study was exploratory analysis of the PostTrans questionnaire to investigate whether a reduction in the number of items was statistically supported, and whether clinically meaningful subscales could be derived. METHODS: A prospective cohort of women with type 1 or type 2 diabetes was recruited from three metropolitan hospitals in Melbourne, Australia. Women completed surveys across three postnatal time points. Data were pooled for the analysis. Suitability for factor analysis was confirmed and exploratory Principal Components Analysis with oblique rotation was conducted. RESULTS: The number of responses in the pooled dataset was 117. The reduced PostTrans scale has 27 items and six factors, which together explain 68.7% of the variance. The subscales assess: feeling as if one is coping with diabetes and the infant; feeling anxious and guilty about diabetes; feeling supported by family; sensitivity to the opinions of others; prioritising self-care; and health professional support. CONCLUSION: The number of items in the PostTrans Questionnaire was reduced from 51 to 27 items. Six meaningful subscales emerged, which can help health professionals identify and address areas in which women with diabetes are experiencing psychosocial difficulties. The revised scale provides a feasible instrument to be tested for psychometric properties in a larger sample.

Haptoglobin Phenotype Modulates Lipoprotein-Associated Risk for Preeclampsia in Women With Type 1 Diabetes.

CONTEXT: The incidence of preeclampsia (PE) is increased in women with diabetes (∼20% vs ∼5% in the general population), and first trimester lipoprotein profiles are predictive. Haptoglobin (Hp), a protein with functional genetic polymorphisms, has antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and angiogenic effects. Among people with diabetes, the Hp 2-2 phenotype is associated with cardiorenal disease. OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether Hp phenotype is associated with PE in type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) and/or modulates lipoprotein-associated risks. DESIGN AND SETTING: Multicenter prospective study of T1DM pregnancy. PATIENTS: Pregnant women with T1DM (normal albuminuria, normotensive at enrolment, n = 47) studied at three visits, all preceding PE onset: 12.3 ± 1.9, 21.8 ± 1.5, and 31.5 ± 1.6 weeks' gestation (mean ± SD). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Hp phenotype and lipoprotein profiles in women with (n = 23) vs without (n = 24) subsequent PE. RESULTS: Hp phenotype did not predict PE, but lipoprotein associations with subsequent PE were confined to women with Hp 2-2, in whom the following associations with PE were observed: increased low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, LDL particle concentration, apolipoprotein B (APOB), triacylglycerol/high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol ratio, and APOB/apolipoprotein AI (APOA1) ratio; decreased HDL cholesterol, APOA1, large HDL particle concentration, and peripheral lipoprotein lipolysis (all P < 0.05). In women with one or two Hp-1 alleles, no such associations were observed. CONCLUSIONS: In women with T1DM, although Hp phenotype did not predict PE risk, lipoprotein-related risks for PE were limited to those with the Hp 2-2 phenotype. Hp phenotype may modulate PE risk in diabetes.

Dietary intervention strategies for ethnic Chinese women with gestational diabetes mellitus: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

AIM: Ethnic Chinese women are one of the populations at high risk of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) internationally. This systematic review aimed to determine which dietary intervention strategies were found to be effective in improving glycaemic control and pregnancy outcomes among ethnic Chinese women with GDM. METHODS: The review protocol was registered with PROSPERO (CRD42016043585). Eight English and four Chinese language databases were searched for randomised controlled trials and cohort studies of dietary intervention among ethnic Chinese women with GDM. Review Manager 5.3 and GRADE criteria were used in meta-analysis and assessment of quality of evidence. RESULTS: Included studies comprised 3944 women in 29 eligible studies. Compared to standard treatment, low glycaemic index (GI) diets, low glycaemic load (GL) diets and fibre-enriched diets were associated with a reduction in fasting plasma glucose, 2-hour plasma glucose and HbA1c, and improved neonatal outcomes. Low GL diets were associated with reduced caesarean section risk. CONCLUSIONS: In ethnic Chinese women with GDM, low GI diets, low GL diets and fibre-enriched diets were associated with improved glycaemic control and pregnancy outcomes. Given the lack of direct comparison of these three diets, future direct comparison trials are necessary to determine optimal dietary intervention strategies.

Early Intervention for Diabetes in Medical and Surgical Inpatients Decreases Hyperglycemia and Hospital-Acquired Infections: A Cluster Randomized Trial.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate if early electronic identification and bedside management of inpatients with diabetes improves glycemic control in noncritical care. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: We investigated a proactive or early intervention model of care (whereby an inpatient diabetes team electronically identified individuals with diabetes and aimed to provide bedside management within 24 h of admission) compared with usual care (a referral-based consultation service). We conducted a cluster randomized trial on eight wards, consisting of a 10-week baseline period (all clusters received usual care) followed by a 12-week active period (clusters randomized to early intervention or usual care). Outcomes were adverse glycemic days (AGDs) (patient-days with glucose <4 or >15 mmol/L [<72 or >270 mg/dL]) and adverse patient outcomes. RESULTS: We included 1,002 consecutive adult inpatients with diabetes or new hyperglycemia. More patients received specialist diabetes management (92% vs. 15%, P < 0.001) and new insulin treatment (57% vs. 34%, P = 0.001) with early intervention. At the cluster level, incidence of AGDs decreased by 24% from 243 to 186 per 1,000 patient-days in the intervention arm (P < 0.001), with no change in the control arm. At the individual level, adjusted number of AGDs per person decreased from a mean 1.4 (SD 1.6) to 1.0 (0.9) days (-28% change [95% CI -45 to -11], P = 0.001) in the intervention arm but did not change in the control arm (1.8 [2.0] to 1.5 [1.8], -9% change [-25 to 6], P = 0.23). Early intervention reduced overt hyperglycemia (55% decrease in patient-days with mean glucose >15 mmol/L, P < 0.001) and hospital-acquired infections (odds ratio 0.20 [95% CI 0.07-0.58], P = 0.003). CONCLUSIONS: Early identification and management of inpatients with diabetes decreased hyperglycemia and hospital-acquired infections.

Ethnic differences in prevalence, risk factors, and perinatal outcomes of gestational diabetes mellitus: A comparison between immigrant ethnic Chinese women and Australian-born Caucasian women in Australia.

BACKGROUND: The prevalence of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is increasing worldwide. Ethnic differences in risk factors and perinatal outcomes are clinically important. Chinese women constitute approximately 10% of the world's population, and are an increasing migrant population, yet prevalence, risk factors, and outcomes of GDM in this population are insufficiently explored. METHODS: A retrospective study of a large pregnancy dataset comparing GDM prevalence, risk factors, and perinatal outcomes between immigrant ethnic Chinese women and Australian-born Caucasian women was conducted using logistic regression. RESULTS: Overall, 73 517 births were extracted from the pregnancy databases of two of Australia's largest maternity services. Chinese women (n = 3419) had a 4-fold higher risk of GDM than Caucasians (n = 28 594) after adjusting for risk factors of GDM. A past history of GDM (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 5.24; 95% confidence interval [95% CI] 2.91-9.42] was the main GDM risk factor in both groups. Other GDM risk factors varied between groups. Perinatal outcomes in Chinese women with and without GDM were similar, except for neonatal hypoglycemia (aOR 2.01; 95% CI 1.14-3.56]. Caucasian women with GDM had more adverse perinatal outcomes than women without GDM. After adjusting for confounders, Chinese women with GDM had a lower risk of labor induction, large-for-gestational-age babies, neonatal hypoglycemia, respiratory distress, and low Apgar scores than Caucasian women with GDM. CONCLUSIONS: Differences in prevalence, risk profile, and adverse outcomes in GDM were evident between ethnic Chinese and Caucasian women. A precision medicine approach to GDM may be warranted considering ethnicity and individual risk profiles rather than a one-size-fits-all approach.

Preconception management of women with obesity: A systematic review.

The prevalence of women of child-bearing age with obesity continues to rise at an alarming rate. This has significant implications for both the short-term and long-term health of mother and offspring. Given the paucity of evidence-based literature in this field, the preconception management of women with obesity is highly variable both between institutions and around the world. This systematic review aims to evaluate studies that inform us about the role of preconception weight loss in the fertility and pregnancy outcomes of women with obesity. Current therapeutic interventions are discussed, with a specific focus on the suitability of weight loss interventions for women with obesity planning pregnancy. There are significant knowledge gaps in the current literature; these are discussed and areas for future research are explored.

Gestational diabetes mellitus: A pragmatic approach to diagnosis and management.

BACKGROUND: Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is a common condition with risks for mother and baby. Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and obesity are occurring with increasing frequency, and the incidence of GDM reflects this trend. Further, new diagnostic criteria have greatly increased the prevalence of GDM. Potential lifelong consequences exist for mother and baby if the condition goes untreated; however, adverse maternal and fetal effects can be ameliorated by effective pregnancy management. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this article is to provide practical advice regarding GDM diagnosis, management and postpartum follow-up for general practitioners, who, increasingly, will be involved in GDM care. DISCUSSION: Controversy surrounds many aspects of GDM. Recommendations are frequently based on consensus. In the context of a deficient evidence base, any recommendations are open to debate. However, it is reasonable to suggest a pragmatic way forward, maintaining an open mind about the current diversity of practice and a preparedness to include further research findings into future practice.