LIPID-LEVELS IN FORMER GESTATIONAL DIABETIC MOTHERS

OBJECTIVE - To investigate lipid levels in former gestational diabetic mothers, 5-6 years postpartum, and to evaluate the relationship of th ese Values to glucose, insulin, BMI, and blood pressure. RESEARCH DESI GN AND METHODS - The subjects studied were 56 former gestational diabe tic mothers and 48 control mothers 5-6 years postpartum. Two hours aft er a 50-g carbohydrate meal, total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG ), HDL and LDL cholesterol, glucose, and insulin were measured and com pared between the two groups (analysis of variance). BMI and blood pre ssure were also evaluated. The risk of finding an abnormal metabolic, anthropometric, or hemodynamic parameter in either group was assessed (chi(2) analysis and Fisher's exact test). Correlation coefficients we re assessed between the lipids versus insulin, glucose, BMI, and blood pressure. RESULTS - Mean TC, TG, LDL cholesterol, glucose, and systol ic blood pressure were significantly higher in the gestational diabeti c mothers than in the control mothers. In addition, there was greater likelihood of finding an abnormal TC greater than or equal to 5.17 mmo l/l, LDL cholesterol greater than or equal to 4.14 mmol/l, and systoli c blood pressure > 140 mmHg in gestational diabetic mothers. Triglycer ides correlated with BMI, insulin, systolic and diastolic blood pressu re, and HDL cholesterol correlated inversely with insulin in gestation al diabetic mothers CONCLUSIONS - We conclude that at 5-6 years postpa rtum, former gestational diabetic mothers demonstrate changes in lipid levels that differ from control mothers and that specific lipids corr elate with cardiovascular risk factors. Further study is needed to eva luate gestational diabetic mothers for the development of cardiovascul ar risk factors including insulin resistance.