Abstract
Objective: To determine the ultrasonography (USG) values of median nerve cross-sectional area (MN-CSA) in pregnant women with and without diabetes mellitus (DM) to confirm carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS).
 Methods: We prospectively studied pregnant women who have been diagnosed with pregestational type 1 and type 2 DM or gestational DM (GDM) due to positive GDM screening tests. One-step GDM screening (2 h - 75 g oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT)) was used at 24–28 weeks of gestation and diagnosis of GDM. MN was identified at the level of distal wrist crease in transverse sections with USG and maximal MN-CSA was calculated then, asked the patient complaints about her hand (paraesthesia, pain, numbness). The DM group was compared to the control group according to age, week of pregnancy, weight gain during pregnancy, MN-CSA, and presence of compliments.
 Results: There were 107 DM pregnant women and 113 controls in the study group. The median value of MN-CSA was higher in the DM group than in the control group (p< 0,001). There was no difference between groups in terms of DM subgroups and insulin requirement. Hand pain is significantly frequent in the DM group than in controls. There has been a positive correlation between weight gain during pregnancy and MN-CSA (p =0,011; r=0,245).
 Conclusion: USG can be a first-line diagnostic test for CTS in the diabetic pregnant population, as recommended for the general population before. Both pregnancy and DM are stated as risk factors for CTS, these patients must be evaluated more carefully about this issue and proper advices should be given to improve their life quality.
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