The relationship between pregnancy weight gain and impaired glucose tolerance test

Abstract

Impaired glucose tolerance has several adverse effects on growing fetus. In this study we evaluated the effect of excessive weight gain during pregnancy on the risk of glucose intolerance in pregnant women. A case-control study was conducted through which the glucose tolerance status after 100 gram oral glucose intake was compared between 60 pregnant women with maximum 10 weeks of gestation and excessive weight gain between gestational age 10 and 28 weeks and 60 pregnant women with excessive weight gain. Impaired glucose tolerance was defined as one high level in glucose tolerance test after 100 g oral glucose intake, and two high levels were considered gestational diabetes. In women their weight gain ratio exceeded unity, the chance of glucose intolerance was four times higher than that in the women with normal weight gain (%13 versus %3.3, P-value = 0.05). It can therefore be concluded that excessive weight gain during pregnancy elevates the risk of glucose intolerance in pregnant women.