Glycemic profile assessment during betamethasone administration in women with gestational diabetes mellitus.

Aim: Betamethasone's effect on glucose homeostasis in the presence of gestational diabetes has not been adequately investigated.

Materials-methods: We assessed the glycemic profile of 99 women with gestational diabetes (52 on insulin, 47 on medical nutrition therapy) who were given betamethasone during hospitalization for at risk pregnancies.

Results: In insulin-treated women the increase in total daily insulin dose significantly linked to betamethasone dose (p = 0.014). In women on diet, the need for insulin was positively related to betamethasone dose, age and gestational age >34th week (all p < 0.05).

Conclusion: Parsimonious betamethasone use might still be beneficial with a milder effect on glycemia.