Insulin response and gestational diabetes related to maternal age? - abstract

ABSTRACT

Most cases of gestational diabetes are found in women older than 30 years. Insulin response generally decreases with increased age. To correlate the relationship between maternal age; insulin response and subsequent development of gestational diabetes, 120 pregnant women were classified into three age groups; ages 18-24 years, 25-29 years and o30 years. All women were classified as normal weight when adjusted for expected pregnancy weight gain. The three groups were administered a 50g glucose screen at 27 weeks of gestation. Blood samples were taken 1 hour after ingesttion. Analyses were done for glucose, c-peptide and insulin. Patients in the age group in 18 - 24 years had mean ñSD glucose concentration of 5.6ñ 1.0 mmol/l and showed the greatest insulin response with a mean ñSD of 160ñ 24æU/ml. Patients in the age group 25 - 29 years had a mean glucose value of 6.4ñ 1.0 mmol/l and the mean insulin value of 148ñ 31æU/ml was less than that of the younger group. The oldest women had the lowest mean insulin value of 100ñ 49æU/ml and showed some general glucose intolerance with mean glucose value of 8.1ñ 1.0mmol/l. A significant difference (p=0.001) was formed in insulin values when the women in the age groups 18-24 years and 25-19 years were compared. However the difference was greater (p=0.000002) when the women in the age groups 18 - 24 years and o30 years were compared. A 4.25 percent prevalence rate of gestational diabetes was found among the oldest women. Our findings that glucose tolerance and insulin response are lowest in older pregnant women support the concept that gestational diabetes in more prevalent in older gravidas. (AU)