The mean third trimester postprandial blood glucose of diabetic pregnant patients and infant birth weight in the kuwaiti population.

OBJECTIVE

To determine whether the mean third-trimester postprandial blood sugar can predict macrosomia.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Data were collected from the medical records of 281 diabetic patients who had delivered their babies between May 1996 and May 2000. Mean 1-hour postprandial blood sugar in the third trimester was calculated for all patients. The Mann-Whitney U test was used to determine the statistical significance. The receiver-operator characteristic (ROC) curve was used to identify the significant cutoff point for the blood sugar level.

RESULTS

The mean third-trimester blood sugar is significantly higher in mothers who delivered macrosomic infants compared with mothers of non-macrosomic infants (P is less than.05). On the basis of ROC analysis, a mean third-trimester blood sugar level greater than 135 mg/dL can predict risk of macrosomia in infants.

CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS

Mean third-trimester 1-hour postprandial blood sugar of 135 mg/dL or higher can predict the risk of fetal macrosomia. Additional prospective studies are urgently needed to confirm the findings of this study and to evaluate the effect of elective cesarean section for patients with high mean postprandial third-trimester blood sugar on perinatal morbidity and mortality.