Increased HbA1c and HOMA-IR may predict risk of gestational diabetes early in pregnancy

• Researchers identified 462 women, out of which 29.44 % of women developed GDM.
• Based on HbA1c and HOMA-IR, there were four groups in the study population, with the percentages of each group being 51.30%, 15.58%, 20.56%, and 12.55%, respectively.
• With the increase in HOMA-IR and HbA1c, GDM incidence increased with the increase of HOMA-IR and HbA1c, respectively.
• GDM risk increased when both HOMA-IR and HbA1c were elevated.
• In pregnant women < 35 years, there was no risk.
• Finally, we found significantly higher FG at 24-28 weeks in the high HOMA-IR and HbA1c group among GDM-positive pregnant women.

The study has highlighted that GDM incidence increases with increasing HOMA-IR and HbA1c, respectively carrying the highest risk when maternal HOMA- IR and HbA1c are elevated in pregnant women aged ≥ 35 years.

They said, based on the results of our study, we found that among pregnant women with GDM, fasting glucose is higher at 24-28 weeks in those with elevated IR and HbA1c, independent of age.

Further reading:

Combining HbA1c and insulin resistance to assess the risk of gestational diabetes mellitus: a prospective cohort study. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.diabres.2023.110673