Association between gestational diabetes and biomarkers: a role in diagnosis

Abstract

Background: We investigated the association between markers of insulin resistance, chronic inflammation, and adipokines and GDM.

Methods: In our case-cohort study in Johannesburg we included women with GDM and controls. We tested the ability of biomarkers to identify women at high risk of GDM.

Results: Of the 262 pregnant women, 83 (31.7%) had GDM. Women with GDM were heavier (p = 0.04) and had more clinical risk factors (p = 0.008). We found a significant difference in fasting insulin (p < 0.001), adiponectin (p = 0.046), HOMA (p < 0.001) and QUICKI (p < 0.001). HOMA (AUROC = 0.82) or QUICKI (AUROC = 0.82) improved the ability of risk factors to identify women at high risk of GDM.

Conclusions: Insulin sensitivity markers are promising tools to identify women at high risk of GDM.

Keywords:

• Biomarkers
• gestational diabetes
• adiponectin
• insulin

Additional information

Funding

Funding for this study was obtained from the Society for Endocrinology, Metabolism and Diabetes of South Africa (SEMDSA), South African Sugar Association (SASA), and Roche Pharmaceuticals. The funders played no role in the study design, data collection, or data analysis.