Triglyceride metabolism in pregnancy.

During pregnancy, complex changes occur in lipid profiles. From the 12th week of gestation, phospholipids, cholesterol (total, LDL, HDL), and triglycerides (TG) increase in response to estrogen stimulation and insulin resistance. Transition to a catabolic state favors maternal tissue lipid use as energy sources, thus sparing glucose and amino acids for the fetus.

Physical activity and dietary habits during pregnancy: effects on glucose tolerance.

Objectives: We designed this study to assess the potential effects of physical activity and dietary habits on glucose tolerance during pregnancy.

Methods: This is an observational study involving 268 women who underwent a 50-g oral glucose challenge test (GCT) at 27±6.9 week of gestation.

Gestational diabetes mellitus: an opportunity to prevent type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease in young women.

In women with previous gestational diabetes (pGDM), the risk of developing Type 2 diabetes is greatly increased, to the point that GDM represents an early stage in the natural history of Type 2 diabetes. In addition, in the years following the index pregnancy, women with pGDM exhibit an increased cardiovascular risk profile and an increased incidence of cardiovascular disease. This paper will review current knowledge on the metabolic modifications that occur in normal pregnancy, underlining the mechanism responsible for GDM, the link between these alterations and the associated long-term maternal complications.

Continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion and multiple dose insulin injections in Type 1 diabetic pregnant women: a case-control study.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion (CSII) on glycemic control and pregnancy outcomes in Type 1 diabetic pregnant women. We retrospectively evaluated 42 subjects, 20 treated with CSII and 22 with multiple dose insulin injections (MDI). The two groups were comparable for age, pre-pregnancy BMI, and primiparous rate, whereas women in the CSII group showed a tendency toward a longer diabetes duration (p = 0.

Normal glucose tolerance and gestational diabetes mellitus: what is in between?

Objective: The aim of this article was to define the metabolic phenotype of pregnant women with one abnormal value (OAV) during an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) and to test whether OAV could be considered metabolically comparable to gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) or a specific entity between GDM and normal pregnancy.

Research Design And Methods: After 100-g 3-h OGTTs, 4,053 pregnant women were classified as having GDM, OAV, or normal glucose tolerance (NGT). Those with OAV were subdivided into three subgroups: fasting hyperglycemia (one abnormal value at fasting during an OGTT), 1-h hyperglycemia (one abnormal value at 1 h during an OGTT [1h-OAV]), or 2- or 3-h hyperglycemia (one abnormal value at 2 or 3 h during an OGTT).

Early impairment of beta-cell function and insulin sensitivity characterizes normotolerant Caucasian women with previous gestational diabetes.

Background And Aims: Women with previous gestational diabetes (pGDM) are at high risk of developing type 2 diabetes mellitus. The aim of this study was to evaluate insulin action and insulin secretion in women with pGDM.

Methods And Results: One hundred and fifty-three pGDM women and 45 with normal glucose tolerance during pregnancy (controls) were studied 1-3years after delivery.

Rosiglitazone plus metformin: combination therapy for Type 2 diabetes.

Type 2 diabetes is a common disease associated with an increased risk of long-term complications, in particular cardiovascular disease. Intervention trials have provided evidence that strict metabolic control can substantially reduce the burden of the disease. However, in order to accomplish this, the pathogenetic defects must be tackled by appropriate therapy.