Glycated Albumin May Predict Early Postpartum Glucose Intolerance in Patients with Gestational Diabetes

Abstract

Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is associated with an increased long-term risk of developing diabetes. We investigated the risk factors for early postpartum glucose intolerance in patients with GDM.A total of 148 patients with GDM were included in this study. Among them, 30 and 118 were diagnosed with GDM before (B20w group) and after (A20w group) 20 weeks of gestation, respectively. Oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) was performed in all patients 58 days after delivery. In each group, the association between the postpartum OGTT results and the following parameters were analyzed: age, BMI, family history of diabetes, plasma glucose levels in diagnostic prenatal OGTT, number of abnormal OGTT values, glycated hemoglobin and glycated albumin (GA) levels at diagnosis of GDM, serum C-peptide levels, frequency of insulin therapy, and pregnancy outcomes.Postpartum OGTT revealed glucose intolerance in 9 and 35 patients in the B20w and A20w groups, respectively. In the B20w group, placental weight was an independent predictor for glucose intolerance. In the A20w group, GA level and family history were independent predictors for glucose intolerance.Elevated GA levels may be associated with a higher risk of postpartum glucose intolerance in patients with GDM diagnosed after 20 weeks of gestation.

Keywords

• gestational diabetes
• postpartum
• insulin therapy
• glycated albumin