Endocrine Abstracts

Background: Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is a significant public health problem with a rising prevalence and a potential impact on maternal and fetal health outcomes. Studies have shown the potential relationship between maternal incretin hormones and gestational diabetes. This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between incretin peptides, gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), and pregnancy outcomes.

Method: Participants were screened for GDM using the 75 g post-oral glucose load test. Incretin hormones (glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP1) and glucose inhibitory peptide (GIP)), as well as fasting insulin, were assayed using the sandwich-ELISA technique. Anthropometry was also measured, including maternal weight, height, and blood pressure. Fetal and maternal outcomes were recorded at delivery. The sociodemographic and clinical characteristics of the study population were described. Bivariate and multivariate regression analyses assessed differences in maternal incretin levels between the GDM and non-GDM groups.

Result: The mean age of the participants was 30.59 years; multiparous women comprised 59.1%, and grand multiparas were 34.0%. The prevalence of gestational diabetes based on the 2013 WHO criteria was 14.88%. At baseline (0 mins), the mean values of GIP and GLP-1 were 220.17±159.18 and 53.45±29.71, while at 120 mins (after stimulation), they were 459.91±189.23 and 459.91±373.56 pg/ml, respectively. There was a positive correlation between the basal and stimulated levels of incretin hormones and insulin resistance (r = 0.275, P = 0.006 for GIP for GLP1 and r = 0.2589, P = 0.0004 for GIP, respectively).

Conclusion: The findings from this study indicate the need for a larger-scale multi-institutional study to evaluate the role of maternal incretin hormones in the diagnosis of insulin resistance and GDM.