The effect of telemedicine on outcome and quality of life in pregnant women with diabetes

We evaluated the effect of a telemedicine system on maternal and fetal outcome in women with diabetes. A total of 276 pregnant women were enrolled in the study. Women were sequentially assigned to a telemedicine or a control group. There were 88 women with gestational diabetes in the telemedicine group and 115 in the control group; there were 17 women with type 1 diabetes in the telemedicine group and 15 in the control group. Women in telemedicine groups were asked to submit their blood glucose data every week, and had a medical examination at the diabetes clinic once a month. Women in the control groups had a medical examination every two weeks. Subjective outcomes were investigated using the following questionnaires: CES-D for depression, SF-36 for health-related quality of life (QoL), Stress and Distress for the impact of diabetes. Clinical variables and pregnancy outcomes were no different between the two telemedicine groups, whereas women with gestational diabetes in the telemedicine group had a better metabolic control in the 3rd trimester and a lower rate of caesarean sections and macrosomia. As for QoL, women in the telemedicine groups showed lower levels of frustration and concerns about their diabetes, and a better acceptance of their diabetic condition. A questionnaire on the use of the telemedicine system showed a high degree of acceptance (85%). Both telemedicine groups had fewer check-ups at the diabetes clinics. The use of a telemedicine system for glucose monitoring improved pregnancy outcome in women with gestational diabetes and improved QoL in all diabetic pregnancies

Gestational diabetes mellitus in Italy: a multicenter study

OBJECTIVE: This prospective study evaluated the impact of gestational diabetes on maternal and fetal outcome in a large cohort of women with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) followed up using standardized clinical criteria. STUDY DESIGN: Between 1999 and 2003, we collected 3465 GDM women from 31 Italian regional obstetric or diabetes centers, recording the time and mode of delivery, gestational hypertension, pre-eclampsia, eclampsia, congenital malformations, and neonatal mortality, comparing findings with the Italian general pregnant population. RESULTS: The rate of cesarean sections was 34.9% and macrosomia 8.7% (33.2 and 7.4%, respectively, in the general population, p=ns). The stillbirth and neonatal mortality rates were no different in GDM patients and normal pregnancies (0.34% vs. 0.30%, p=0.176 and 0.29% vs. 0.32%, p=0.748), but the former had twice as many newborn with congenital malformations (2.05% vs. 0.89%, p<0.01; CI 1.64-2.62). A prognostic model for the outcome of pregnancy was built and the concurrent occurrence of several conditions was deemed as a positive outcome. Pregnancies which did not meet one or more of the above criteria were classified as "complicated". On multivariate logistic analysis, only the week of gestation when GDM was diagnosed and prepregnancy BMI were independent predictors of a complicated pregnancy. CONCLUSION: When correctly diagnosed and treated during pregnancy, women with GDM have a pregnancy outcome similar to the general pregnant population, except for a greater likelihood of congenital malformations in the newborn, probably due to unrecognized prior diabetes. Prepregnancy obesity plays an important part in raising the risk of adverse perinatal outcomes in GDM patients

Can plasma glucose and HbA1c predict fetal growth in mothers with different glucose tolerance levels?

To assess whether HbA1c and plasma glucose predicts abnormal fetal growth, 758 pregnant women attending 5 Diabetic Centers were screened for gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). On glucose challenge (GCT) at 24-27 weeks of gestation (g.w.), negative cases formed the normal control group (N1). Positive cases took an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT): those found negative were classed as false positives screening test (N2); if they had an OGTT result at least as high as their normal glucose levels, they were classed as having one abnormal glucose value (OAV) at OGTT; two values as GDM. HbA1c was assayed on the day of GCT. We considered fetal macrosomia, large for gestational age (LGA), ponderal index and mean growth percentile. Mean age, pre-pregnancy BMI, fasting plasma glucose (FPG) and HbA1c were progressively higher from N1 to GDM patients. The newborn of N2 mothers were heavier than those with N1 or GDM. The mean growth percentile was significantly higher in N2 than in N1. More LGA babies were born to OAV than to N1 or N2 women. Macrosomia and ponderal index did not differ significantly in the four groups. At logistic regression only plasma glucose at GCT could predict LGA babies and a ponderal index above 2.85. At risk analysis, GDM and OAV significantly predicted LGA babies, and GDM a ponderal index >2.85. In conclusion, FPG at GCT could predict fetal overgrowth and plasma glucose >85mg/dl doubles the risk of LGA infants. HbA1c at 24-27g.w. does not predict fetal overgrowth. Mild alterations in glucose tolerance correlate with fetal overgrowth and needs monitoring and treatment