Lowering blood sugar in gestational diabetes reduces baby’s risk but may increase mother’s

Sep. 16 () –

Lowering the target blood sugar level for mothers with gestational diabetes does not reduce the risk of large babies, but it does reduce the risk of death or injury to the baby during childbirth, according to a new study from the University of Auckland, New Zealand, published in the open access journal ‘PLOS Medicine’.

Gestational diabetes is a major and growing health problem around the world, often resulting in the birth of especially large babies who face a high risk of obesity and type 2 diabetes later in life. Women can change their diet and take medication to control their blood sugar level, but it is currently unknown to what extent blood sugar levels need to be controlled to minimize risks to mother and baby.

To determine whether tighter control is better, the researchers conducted a study of 1,100 pregnant women with gestational diabetes cared for in 10 New Zealand hospitals. During the study, each hospital switched from higher to lower blood sugar targets, and the results for the women and babies in each group were compared.

Although tighter blood glucose control did not make babies larger than expected, it did halve the risk of infant death, trauma and shoulder dystocia during childbirth. However, tighter control nearly doubled the risk of serious health outcomes for the mother, such as major postpartum hemorrhage, among other complications.

The new results may help doctors decide what blood sugar level patients should look for while managing their gestational diabetes. The study is the largest randomized comparison of two blood sugar targets conducted to date in a diverse population. However, the researchers note that their results still need to be confirmed by further randomized trials and in different healthcare settings.

Study author Caroline Crowther notes, “This unique trial enabled the sequential application of the new, more stringent treatment targets recommended for women with gestational diabetes and assessed whether there are true benefits, notwithstanding, of using more stringent treatment targets. “.