Starvation in human pregnancy: hypoglycemia, hypoinsulinemia, and hyperketonemia.

In women fasted during the second trimester of pregnancy, concentrations of glucose and insulin in the plasma fell to a greater extent and ketone acid concentrations in the blood rose more rapidly than in nonpregnant controls. Nitrogen excretion in the urine, particularly ammonia, was increased in the pregnant group. Continuous glucose utilization by the conceptus may exaggerate and accelerate the metabolic consequences of starvation.