Comparative analysis of 2-week glycaemic profile of healthy versus mild gestational diabetic pregnant women using flash glucose monitoring system: an observational study.

Abstract

To compare glycaemic profiles in women with mild gestational diabetes (GDM) and those with a healthy pregnancy. Observational study. Hospital-based. Healthy nonpregnant, healthy pregnant, and women with GDM, diagnosed by oral glucose tolerance test. Nine nonpregnant women, 33 healthy pregnant women, 29 pregnant women with GDM between 24 and 36weeks' gestation, received ambulatory glucose profile (AGP) monitoring for a 2-week period. AGP values were compared in the three groups: 100days (9600 data points) for nonpregnant women, 396days (33792 data points) for healthy pregnant women, and 348days (34408 data points) for women with GDM. Mean glucose values for fasting and postmeals were highest in nonpregnant healthy women and lowest in healthy pregnant women (P<0.001). Women with mild GDM had significantly higher blood glucose values than did healthy pregnant women, though still within the target range. Blood glucose values>160mg/dl were observed in 41.4% (12/29) in the GDM group compared with 18.2% in women with a healthy pregnancy. The maximum peak of day and night time glucose was respectively 234and 215mg/dl in women with GDM compared with 183 and 171mg/dL in the control group. Glycaemic variability as measured by interquartile range was higher in GDM pregnancies. Although the blood glucose level remained within the target levels in women with mild GDM, glycaemic variability and mean blood glucose levels were significantly higher among women with GDM than among women with a healthy pregnancy. Average blood glucose levels and glycaemic variability are significantly higher in women with GDM than in women with a healthy pregnancy.