The dynamic of impaired glucose tolerance in women with fetal gigantism.

In a group of 51 women who had given birth to giant children, the glucose tolerance test (GTT) was performed at entry in the study and after intervals of 6 to 12 years. The results of the first determination, estimated according to the WHO's criteria (1980), have revealed an impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) in 7 cases (14%); the second determination showed IGT in 10 cases (20%) and diabetes mellitus in 2 (4%). Insulinemia assays, concomitant with the second performance of GTT, showed the highest values in the diabetic subjects, moderate values in those with IGT, and low values in those with normal glucose tolerance. The presence of obesity in some cases could not be considered as fully responsible for the glucose tolerance impairment in the women with fetal gigantism. The dynamics of glucose tolerance disorders showed variations in time, i.e. the initial pathologic changes were no more recorded on the second testing in the same subjects, while women with normal initial GTT showed high insulinemia or IGT on the second determination.