Treating the mother – protecting the unborn: The safety of hypoglycemic drugs in pregnancy

Abstract

The purpose of this review is to provide a brief overview of the safety of antidiabetics in pregnancy. Specifically, concerns over teratogenicity due to the possible placental transfer of antidiabetics as well as maternal and neonatal outcomes are addressed. Several new insulin analogs are currently available for the treatment of diabetes. Due to the improved glycemic control demonstrated in non pregnant patients, these analogs may also prove to be beneficial in pregnancy. Insulin lispro is the only insulin analog that has been systematically studied in pregnancy. Results of these studies show a lack of transfer across the placenta and no adverse fetal and neonatal outcomes. The use of oral hypoglycemic agents in pregnancy is also generating interest. To date, there has been only one randomized controlled trial investigating the use of glyburide which found it to be safe and effective in the management of gestational diabetes mellitus. The lack of randomized controlled trials for antidiabetics in pregnancy highlights the need for more comprehensive investigation regarding their safety and efficacy.

Keywords:

• Gestational diabetes
• diabetes mellitus
• pregnancy
• oral hypoglycemic drugs
• insulin analogs
• glyburide
• metformin