Increased basal insulin sensitivity in late pregnancy in women carrying a male fetus: a cohort study

Abstract

Highlights Pregnant women carrying a male fetus were more insulin sensitive than those carrying a female at around week 28 of pregnancy in a contemporary birth cohort. They also appeared to secrete more insulin relative to their degree of insulin sensitivity. The differences in glucose and insulin concentrations were evident in the basal state but disappeared after the consumption of a glucose load. Fetal sex appears to be able to influence maternal glucose and insulin concentrations in pregnancy.

Keywords

• Development
• Fetal sex
• Gestational diabetes
• Insulin secretion
• Glucose