Menu
26/09/2008
Pregant Diabetics Study Reveals Cheaper Monitoring
An important study published on the medical website bmj.com has suggested that a relatively cheap method of care can have a major impact on both pregnant diabetics and their babies.
The study has found that continuous glucose monitoring as part of antenatal care for women with diabetes both improves maternal blood glucose control and lowers birth weight and the risk of macrosomia (excessive birth weight in babies).
The authors note that, during pregnancy it is important that women with diabetes keep their blood glucose under control.
If not, there may be an increase in the amount of glucose reaching the baby, which makes the baby grow faster than normal, and may cause difficulties at birth as well as an increased longer-term risk of insulin resistance, obesity and type 2 diabetes when the baby gets older.
Evidence suggests that measuring glucose more often improves outcomes, but the optimum frequency of blood glucose testing is not known.
Now, Dr Helen Murphy and her colleagues have examined whether continuous glucose monitoring during pregnancy can improve maternal glucose control and reduce birth weight and risk of macrosomia in babies of mothers with diabetes.
They recruited 71 pregnant women with type 1 and type 2 diabetes from antenatal clinics in the UK.
The women were randomly assigned to standard antenatal care (intermittent self monitoring of glucose levels using the finger prick technique) or intermittent monitoring plus continuous glucose monitoring (using glucose values from subcutaneous tissues measured electronically every 10 seconds, giving up to 288 measurements a day).
Continuous glucose monitoring was used as a tool to aid patient education and optimise lifestyle and therapeutic management of blood glucose levels.
The researchers found that women in the continuous glucose monitoring group had lower mean levels of HbA1c (a measure of the amount of glucose attached to red blood cells) from 32 to 36 weeks' gestation, and improved blood glucose control during the third trimester, compared to women receiving standard antenatal care.
Babies of mothers who had continuous monitoring also had lower birth weight and reduced risk of macrosomia.
But because macrosomia rates were still 3.5 times higher in women using continuous glucose monitoring than in the general maternity population it shows that standard interventions including diet and insulin have failed to reduce rates of macrosomia enough, said the authors.
This emphasises the need for novel educational and technological interventions especially in women with long duration type 1 diabetes, they add.
This trial provides evidence of the lasting benefits of continuous monitoring for the babies of mothers with diabetes and is a potentially important target for public health strategies that aim to reduce the burden of obesity in childhood.
In an accompanying editorial, an expert, Professor Mario Festin said that "continuous glucose monitoring increases the consistency and accuracy of glucose measurement which is vital for the nutritional and drug management of diabetes in pregnancy".
He concluded that continuous glucose monitoring is "relatively cheap compared with a clinic-based monitoring system" and said that more widespread use may make it more affordable even in developing countries.
(BMcC)
The study has found that continuous glucose monitoring as part of antenatal care for women with diabetes both improves maternal blood glucose control and lowers birth weight and the risk of macrosomia (excessive birth weight in babies).
The authors note that, during pregnancy it is important that women with diabetes keep their blood glucose under control.
If not, there may be an increase in the amount of glucose reaching the baby, which makes the baby grow faster than normal, and may cause difficulties at birth as well as an increased longer-term risk of insulin resistance, obesity and type 2 diabetes when the baby gets older.
Evidence suggests that measuring glucose more often improves outcomes, but the optimum frequency of blood glucose testing is not known.
Now, Dr Helen Murphy and her colleagues have examined whether continuous glucose monitoring during pregnancy can improve maternal glucose control and reduce birth weight and risk of macrosomia in babies of mothers with diabetes.
They recruited 71 pregnant women with type 1 and type 2 diabetes from antenatal clinics in the UK.
The women were randomly assigned to standard antenatal care (intermittent self monitoring of glucose levels using the finger prick technique) or intermittent monitoring plus continuous glucose monitoring (using glucose values from subcutaneous tissues measured electronically every 10 seconds, giving up to 288 measurements a day).
Continuous glucose monitoring was used as a tool to aid patient education and optimise lifestyle and therapeutic management of blood glucose levels.
The researchers found that women in the continuous glucose monitoring group had lower mean levels of HbA1c (a measure of the amount of glucose attached to red blood cells) from 32 to 36 weeks' gestation, and improved blood glucose control during the third trimester, compared to women receiving standard antenatal care.
Babies of mothers who had continuous monitoring also had lower birth weight and reduced risk of macrosomia.
But because macrosomia rates were still 3.5 times higher in women using continuous glucose monitoring than in the general maternity population it shows that standard interventions including diet and insulin have failed to reduce rates of macrosomia enough, said the authors.
This emphasises the need for novel educational and technological interventions especially in women with long duration type 1 diabetes, they add.
This trial provides evidence of the lasting benefits of continuous monitoring for the babies of mothers with diabetes and is a potentially important target for public health strategies that aim to reduce the burden of obesity in childhood.
In an accompanying editorial, an expert, Professor Mario Festin said that "continuous glucose monitoring increases the consistency and accuracy of glucose measurement which is vital for the nutritional and drug management of diabetes in pregnancy".
He concluded that continuous glucose monitoring is "relatively cheap compared with a clinic-based monitoring system" and said that more widespread use may make it more affordable even in developing countries.
(BMcC)
Related UK National News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.
10 June 2014
One Third Of Adults Have Prediabetes - Report
A new study has suggested that a third of adults in England now have prediabetes. The research, published in the British Medical Journal suggests there has been a big rise in prediabetes, which is where blood glucose levels are higher than normal but not high enough to qualify as Type 2 diabetes.
One Third Of Adults Have Prediabetes - Report
A new study has suggested that a third of adults in England now have prediabetes. The research, published in the British Medical Journal suggests there has been a big rise in prediabetes, which is where blood glucose levels are higher than normal but not high enough to qualify as Type 2 diabetes.
17 May 2012
Medication Mistakes Putting Diabetes Patients At Risk
Recent checks have revealed the nearly one in three hospital patients with diabetes are affected by medication mistakes that can lead to dangerously high or low blood glucose levels Hospitals in England and Wales made at least one error in the treatment of 3,700 people with diabetes during just one week, according to an audit covering nearly 13,000
Medication Mistakes Putting Diabetes Patients At Risk
Recent checks have revealed the nearly one in three hospital patients with diabetes are affected by medication mistakes that can lead to dangerously high or low blood glucose levels Hospitals in England and Wales made at least one error in the treatment of 3,700 people with diabetes during just one week, according to an audit covering nearly 13,000
03 February 2009
Baby 'Glucose' Death Investigated
A police investigation is being launched after a five-week-old baby girl, died after a suspected overdose of glucose. Poppy Davies, born three months prematurely, died on Sunday night at Great Ormond Street children's hospital.
Baby 'Glucose' Death Investigated
A police investigation is being launched after a five-week-old baby girl, died after a suspected overdose of glucose. Poppy Davies, born three months prematurely, died on Sunday night at Great Ormond Street children's hospital.
26 January 2015
Security Review To Be Carried Out After PM Hoax Call
Downing Street has announced a security review is to be carried out after a hoax caller, claiming to be the head of GCHQ, was put through to the Prime Minister's mobile phone. According to reports, a man claiming to be Robert Hannigan, director of the government monitoring agency, was put through from No.
Security Review To Be Carried Out After PM Hoax Call
Downing Street has announced a security review is to be carried out after a hoax caller, claiming to be the head of GCHQ, was put through to the Prime Minister's mobile phone. According to reports, a man claiming to be Robert Hannigan, director of the government monitoring agency, was put through from No.
14 December 2011
Mismanaged Diabetes 'Killed 24,000'
A report into diabetes mortality has found 24,000 deaths could have been prevented if sufferers had managed their disease better.
Mismanaged Diabetes 'Killed 24,000'
A report into diabetes mortality has found 24,000 deaths could have been prevented if sufferers had managed their disease better.
-
Northern Ireland WeatherToday:A showery start with outbreaks most frequent north of Lough Neagh and through the morning, before dwindling during the afternoon as the northwest breezes ease and brighter spells of weak sunshine prosper. Maximum temperature 8 °C.Tonight:A dry night, save for a few light showers around the coasts, with prolonged clear spells and light winds bringing a frosty dawn for many in central and southern parts. Minimum temperature -3 °C.
