Endocrine Pancreatic Function in Fetuses of Gestational Diabetic and Nondiabetic Mothers

Abstract

C-peptide, insulin, and glucagon levels were measured in the cord blood of 112 nondiabetics controls and 63 diabetic mothers. The cord blood levels of insulin and C-peptide were significantly higher in the diabetic compared to the control group. In the control group, C-peptide levels were positively correlated with fetal birthweight. In the diabetic group, there was a positive correlation between birth-weight and both C-peptide and insulin levels. Neonates were stratified into six categories of birthweight centiles. In the diabetic group, the insulin level was significantly higher than in the control group at all categories of birthweight centiles. Also, the C-peptide level was higher in the diabetic than in the control group, except at the >25 and ≥10 categories of birthweight centile. Glucagon levels were significantly higher among controls, at all categories of birthweight centiles, except in fetuses below the 10th centile of birth weight. The insulin/C-peptide ratio, a ratio that reflects hepatic insu...