Glucose Metabolism in Pregnancy

Dear Colleagues,

Maternal health before and during pregnancy is important for the future health of both mother and child. For instance, the offspring of mothers with gestational diabetes have an increased risk of birth complications associated with increased birthweight and adiposity, such as shoulder dystocia, neonatal hypoglycemia, and obesity, as well as for developing metabolic syndrome, type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular disease in adult life. It is also well known that women with gestational diabetes are at high risk of developing type 2 diabetes and other cardiometabolic diseases later in life, and it has been estimated that around 50% of the women diagnosed with gestational diabetes will develop type 2 diabetes within 5–10 years. In this Special Issue, I sincerely welcome review articles, as well as clinical and original research articles studying glucose metabolism in pregnancy and gestational diabetes. This Special Issue will also be dedicated to the consequences related to gestational diabetes for both mother and child.

Dr. Moen Gunn-Helen
Guest Editor

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This special issue is now open for submission, see below for planned papers.

Title 1: Causes and consequences of elevated glucose levels in pregnancy and gestational diabetes

Title 2: Characteristics of metabolic and immune parameters during pregnancy in women with gestational diabetes and with impaired glucose tolerance

Abstract: Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is the most common metabolic disorder in pregnancy which not only affects pregnancy and childbirth, but can also lead to long-term consequences for the mother and child. In our prospective cohort study, pregnant women in the first trimester of pregnancy (8-12 weeks) were included. They were monitored during pregnancy, and additional data and blood samples were taken from them in the third trimester of pregnancy (30-40 weeks) as well. We examined changes in haematological and biochemical parameters and changes in the distribution of T and B lymphocytes, NK and NKT cells in healthy pregnant women, pregnant women with GDM and pregnant women who did not develop GDM even though they had a fasting glucose disorder at the beginning of pregnancy.  The obtained results provide better insights into metabolic and immunological changes and glucose homeostasis during pregnancy.

Title 3: Adipose tissue insulin resistance in South Asian and Nordic women after gestational diabetes mellitus

Abstract: South Asians (SAs) face a higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes (T2D) than white Europeans, especially following gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). Despite similar blood glucose levels post-GDM, SAs exhibit more insulin resistance (IR) than Nordics, though the underlying mechanisms are unclear. This study aimed to assess markers of adipose tissue (AT) IR and liver fat in SA and Nordic women post-GDM. 179 SA and 108 Nordic women in Norway underwent oral glucose tolerance tests 1-3 years post-GDM. We measured metabolic markers and calculated AT IR index and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease liver fat (NAFLD-LFS) scores. Results showed that normoglycemic SAs had less NEFA suppression during the test, resembling prediabetes/T2D responses, and higher levels of plasma fetuin-A, CRP, and IL-6 but lower adiponectin. Furthermore, normoglycemic SAs had higher NAFLD-LFS scores, lower insulin clearance, and higher peripheral insulin than Nordic controls, indicating increased AT IR, inflammation, and liver fat in SAs. Liver fat markers significantly contributed to the ethnic disparities in glucose metabolism, suggesting a key area for intervention to reduce T2D risk post-GDM in SAs.