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U Hanson

Publications and source records attributed to U Hanson.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Fasting capillary glucose as a screening test for gestational diabetes mellitus.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate fasting capillary glucose as a screening test for gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) compared with traditional risk factors and repeated random capillary glucose measurements. DESIGN: Cross-sectional, population-based study. SETTING: Maternal Health Care Clinics in Orebro County, Sweden. POPULATION: An unselected population of women without diabetes. METHODS: Fasting capillary glucose levels were measured at gestational weeks 28-32. Random capillary glucose levels were measured four to six times during pregnancy. Traditional risk factors for GDM were registered. GDM was diagnosed using a 75-g oral glucose tolerance test. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Sensitivity, specificity, likelihood ratios. RESULTS: In 55 of 3616 women participating in the study, GDM was diagnosed before 34 weeks of gestation. For fasting capillary glucose cutoff values between 4.0 and 5.0 mmol/l, sensitivity was in the range between 87 and 47% and specificity between 51 and 96%. Using a combined screening model of traditional risk factors with fasting capillary glucose at various cutoff values increased the sensitivity only slightly compared with using fasting capillary glucose alone. CONCLUSION: In this Swedish, unselected, low-risk population, fasting capillary glucose measurements were found to be an acceptable and useful screening test for GDM.

Adult↗

Associations between pornography consumption and sexual practices among adolescents in Sweden.

Pornography consumption and sexual behaviour were studied, with an aim to investigate any associations. Participants were 718 students from 47 high school classes, mean age 18 years, in a medium-sized Swedish city. More men (98%) than women (72%) had ever consumed pornography. More male high consumers than low consumers or women got sexually aroused by, fantasized about, or tried to perform acts seen in a pornographic film (P<0.001). Three-quarters of the sample had had sexual intercourse, of which 71% reported contraceptive use at first intercourse. Anal intercourse was reported by 16%, with infrequent condom use (39%). Intercourse with a friend (adjusted odds ratio (adj. OR) 2.29; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.27-4.12) was significantly associated with high consumption of pornography among men, while anal intercourse (adj. OR 1.99; 95% CI 0.95-4.16) and group sex (adj. OR 1.95; 95% CI 0.70-5.47) tended to be associated. A significant confounder was early age of sexual debut (adj. OR 1.49; 95% CI 1.18-1.88).

Adolescent↗

Insulin lispro therapy in pregnancies complicated by type 1 diabetes mellitus.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the efficacy and safety of preprandial administration of rapid-acting lispro analogue with regular short-acting insulin to pregnant women with type 1 diabetes. STUDY DESIGN: Open randomised multicentre study. Women were treated with multiple insulin injections aiming at normoglycaemia. Blood glucose was determined six times daily, HbA(1c) every 4 weeks. Diurnal profiles of blood glucose were analysed at gestational week 14 and during the study period at weeks 21, 28 and 34. PARTICIPANTS: 33 pregnant women with type 1 DM were randomised to treatment with lispro insulin (n=16) or regular insulin (n=17). RESULTS: Blood glucose was significantly lower (P<0.01) after breakfast in the lispro group, while there were no significant group differences in glycemic control during the rest of the day. Severe hypoglycaemia occurred in two patients in the regular group but biochemical hypoglycaemia (blood glucose <3.0 mmol/l) was more frequent in the lispro than in the regular group (5.5 vs. 3.9%, respectively). HbA(1c) values at inclusion were 6.5 and 6.6% in the lispro and regular group respectively. HbA(1c) values declined during the study period and were similar in both groups. There was no perinatal mortality. Complications during pregnancy, route of delivery and foetal outcome did not differ between the groups. Retinopathy progressed in both groups, one patient in the regular group developed proliferative retinopathy. CONCLUSION: The results suggest that it is possible to achieve at least as adequate glycemic control with lispro as with regular insulin therapy in type 1 diabetic pregnancies.

Adult↗

Young women requesting emergency contraception are, despite contraceptive counseling, a high risk group for new unintended pregnancies.

Since its introduction in Sweden in 1994, emergency contraception has become a welcome addition to the campaign against unwanted pregnancy. In addition to an unplanned pregnancy, unprotected sexual intercourse may also involve the risk of contracting sexually transmitted diseases (STD). The aim of this study was to assess the short- and long-term risk of unintended pregnancy and to determine the frequency of chlamydia infections in women receiving emergency contraception. Between September 1998 and February 1999 young women aged 15-25 years had the opportunity to obtain emergency contraception (Yuzpe method) at a youth clinic in the city of Orebro where the opening hours were extended to include Saturdays and Sundays. A follow-up visit 3 weeks after treatment, which included contraceptive counseling, was offered to all participants. At both visits, a pregnancy test and a chlamydia test were performed, and the women completed a questionnaire. After the initial visit, the young women where monitored for new pregnancies during the following 12 months. One pregnancy occurred in the 134 young women who received emergency contraception during the study period. None of the women had a positive chlamydia test. Of those requesting emergency contraception, 54% did so because no contraception was used, 32% because of a ruptured condom, 11% because of missed oral contraceptives (OC), and 5% had mixed reasons. At long-term follow-up 1 year after the initial visit, 10 of the 134 young women had experienced an unplanned pregnancy that terminated in legal abortion in 9 women. All these women had either started and terminated OC or had never commenced the prescribed OC. Young women who request emergency contraception are, despite a planned follow-up with contraceptive counseling, a high risk group for new unintended pregnancies. In Sweden they do not seem to be a high risk group for STD.

Adolescent↗

A high rate of epidural analgesia with bupivacaine-sufentanil is consistent with a low rate of caesarean section and instrumental deliveries.

OBJECTIVE: To prospectively evaluate if a high rate of epidural analgesia (EDA) with bupivacaine-sufentanil is consistent with a low rate of caesarean section, instrumental deliveries and dystocia and to evaluate maternal and fetal adverse effects of sufentanil. STUDY DESIGN: Populations-based prospective descriptive study. A change of EDA from bupivacaine to low dose bupivacaine-sufentanil at the delivery unit of the hospital during 1993 resulted in a marked increase in the rate of EDA. The outcome from the study period (1994-1995) was compared to the outcome during a reference period 1991-1992. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in the incidence of caesarean section and instrumental delivery for dystocia between the two periods (4.4 and 4.6%). The overall incidence of caesarean section, 9.6% and instrumental deliveries, 6.4% during the study period was lower than or comparable to the national background data (11.1 and 6.8%, respectively) while the EDA rate was markedly higher 37.8 versus 21.9%. CONCLUSION: A high rate of EDA, using low dose bupivacaine and sufentanil is consistent with a low rate of caesarean section and instrumental deliveries. No apparent negative effects on the neonates or mothers were observed.

Analgesia, Epidural↗

Hypertension and factors associated with metabolic syndrome at follow-up at 15 years in women with hypertensive disease during first pregnancy.

OBJECTIVES: To study the possibility of identifiable factors at or close to pregnancy that could predict hypertension later in life. To evaluate if women with hypertensive disease in their first pregnancy and who later develop hypertension also have characteristics of the metabolic syndrome. METHODS: Case control study of a cohort of women with hypertension diagnosed in first pregnancy (n = 46) and controls without hypertension in pregnancy (n = 47), studied 15 years after the index pregnancy. Blood pressure, antihypertensive drug treatment, body parameters, blood glucose, serum insulin, and serum lipids were analyzed. RESULTS: In the study group, 43% had hypertension compared to 4% in the control group. Among the women in the study group with more than one pregnancy, there was a significantly higher prevalence of hypertension if pregnancy-induced hypertension was repeated in a later pregnancy. There were also significantly higher waist/hip ratios and fasting plasma levels of insulin in the study group. CONCLUSION: Hypertension in pregnancy is a strong predictor of hypertension later in life. Other factors related to hypertension and present at pregnancy are not useful in selecting a high-risk group. In a proportion of cases, the metabolic syndrome might be related to the hypertensive disease in pregnancy.

Adult↗

Epidemiology of pregnancy-induced hypertension and preeclampsia in type 1 (insulin-dependent) diabetic pregnancies in Sweden.

BACKGROUND: The object of this study was to examine if there is an association between pregnancy-induced hypertension (PIH) and/or preeclampsia (PE) and glycemic control assessed by HbA1c in early type 1 diabetic pregnancy, as well as factors such as maternal age, parity, duration of diabetes, presence of diabetes microangiopathy. METHODS: The nationwide collaborative study included 491 type 1 diabetic pregnancies corresponding to about 80%, of the diabetic pregnancies during the study period 1983-1985. A blood sample for determination of HbA1c was obtained in early gestation (median 9 (5-16) weeks). RESULTS: The rate of PIH/PE was 20.6% in the type 1 diabetic pregnancies compared to 5.0% in the background population. The type 1 diabetic pregnancies complicated by PIH/PE were associated with significantly longer duration of diabetes, higher initial HbA1c (8.1% vs 7.4%, p < 0.01), higher rate of nephropathy and retinopathy, while there were no significant differences in maternal age or parity compared to those without PIH/PE. Discriminant analysis revealed that occurrence of nephropathy (p<0.001), retinopathy (p<0.01) and high HbA1c (p<0.01) in early pregnancy were independently and significantly associated with occurrence of PIH/PE. Among the 463 patients without prepregnancy proteinuria 38 (8.2%) had PIH and 53 (11.5%) PE. The group with PE had, compared to the no PIH/PE group, significantly higher HbA1c (8.2% vs 7.4%, p<0.01). HbA1c was not significantly different between the PIH and the no PIH/PE group (7.5% vs 7.4%). Both the PIH and the PE group had significantly higher rate of retinopathy compared to the no PIH/PE group. If early HbA1c was equal to or above control mean by +8 s.d., i.e. > or =10.1% the PI rate was 31.0% compared to 10.2% in those with HbA1c below that value. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that poor glycemic control in early pregnancy is associated with increased risk of PE in non-proteinuric type 1 diabetic pregnancies.

Adult↗

Neonatal morbidities in gestational diabetes mellitus.

The currently accepted definition of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is rather broad. One might expect that fetal and neonatal complications that may occur in GDM pregnancy would be similar to those in pregestational diabetic pregnancy. Comparative evaluation of reported data on morbidity in GDM are often hampered by confounding variables (maternal age, parity, obesity) as well as the influence of factors such as ethnic origin, diagnostic criteria, and intervention during pregnancy. Recent observations indicate that GDM may be associated with increased incidence of fetal malformation and perinatal mortality. Such poor outcome is likely confined to a subset of GDM patients in whom diabetes was present but unrecognized before pregnancy. The most frequent and significant morbidity is fetal macrosomia, which in turn is associated with increased risk of birth injuries and asphyxia. In a nationwide study in Sweden (1991-1993) of a large series (n = 3.322) of treated GDM pregnancies, perinatal mortality rate was not increased; but the rate of preeclampsia was doubled, and the rate of emergency cesarean section was 1.6 times higher than in the background population. The rates of fetal macrosomia (> or = 4,500 g), asphyxia, and transient tachypnea were two to three times higher than normal Erb's palsy was 0.7 and 5% in vaginally delivered infants weighing < 4,500 and > or = 4,500 g, respectively. There is a clear need to define the various levels of glucose intolerance in the mother that may have an adverse effect on the offspring. Of equal importance is to standardize and systematize the criteria used to assess the significance of any such impact.

Diabetes, Gestational↗

Assessment of therapy in gestational diabetes by substrate and hormone responses to a standardized test meal.

Postprandial substrate and hormone responses to a standard mixed meal (400 kcal) was determined at two occasions, A and B, in 11 women with gestational diabetes (GDMs) and 11 normoglycaemic controls, matched for age, body mass index, and gestational age. Levels of circulating glucose, non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA), glycerol, 3-hydroxybutyrate (3-HBA), individual amino acids, insulin, and C-peptide were analysed. A was performed when GDMs were considered inadequately controlled with diet alone, B later during gestation following initiation of insulin therapy because of hyperglycaemia. Fasting glucose, glycerol, total and individual amino acids (alanine, valine, isoleucine, leucine), insulin, and C-peptide were not different from normal during A and B, neither were postprandial amino acid levels. During test A, GDMs had elevated fasting and postprandial 3-HBA (p < 0.001), greater postprandial rise of glucose (p < 0.001), elevated NEFA (p < 0.05), but normal and parallel decreases of NEFA and glycerol. Insulin and C-peptide responses were delayed and prolonged. During B, GDMs had higher glucose response (p < 0.005), higher fasting 3-HBA (p < 0.02) but similar and parallel decreases of NEFA, glycerol, and 3-HBA as controls. The C-peptide response was not significantly different from normal; insulin response was higher (p < 0.05). In conclusion, the relative insulin deficiency characterizing GDMs, also when treated with insulin, is associated with selected defects in insulin action; mainly affecting glucoregulation, whereas suppression of lipolysis and proteolysis remain normal.

3-Hydroxybutyric Acid↗

Insulin sensitivity and insulin response in women with gestational diabetes mellitus.

Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is associated with much increased risk of developing diabetes later on in life. Using the frequently sampled intravenous glucose tolerance test and the minimal model analyses we have therefore determined the early insulin response to glucose (EIR) and insulin sensitivity (Si), in women with GDM of different severity (n = 14) and in normal women (n = 10). During the last trimester of pregnancy. GDMs compared to controls had significantly lower EIR (p < 0.001) and Si (p < 0.01). The reduction in EIR was less marked in GDM patients treated with diet alone (n = 6) as compared to GMD patients (n = 8) who subsequently during pregnancy needed treatment also with insulin. The insulin treated GDM group only had higher fasting glucose level than controls (5.2 vs 4.2 mmol/l, p < 0.001). Both GDM subgroups had slightly elevated basal levels of FFA and 3-hydroxybutyrate. Si and EIR were inversely correlated in control women and their fasting glucose correlated both to EIR (r = 0.63, p < 0.05) and to Si (r = 0.59, p < 0.05). In the GDM subgroups Si and EIR were unrelated and there were no correlations between fasting glucose and Si or EIR. These results suggest that glucose intolerance in GDM patients in the last trimester of pregnancy is characterized by both an impaired insulin secretion and an increased resistance to insulin. The impairment of insulin secretion and action increases with the severity of hyperglycemia, and the relative insulin deficiency characterizing GDM patients is associated with a selected defect in insulin action mainly affecting gluco-regulation.

3-Hydroxybutyric Acid↗

Perinatal mortality and route of delivery in term breech presentations.

OBJECTIVE: To compare intrapartum related infant mortality in term (> 34 weeks) breech presentations in relation to vaginal delivery or delivery by caesarean section. DESIGN: Register based nationwide study. SETTING: Sweden from 1991 to 1992. PARTICIPANTS: 6542 singleton fetuses born in the breech presentation. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Intrapartum and early neonatal deaths, stillbirths and congenital malformations, low Apgar score < 7 at 5 min, mode of delivery. RESULTS: After exclusion of antepartum stillbirths and congenital malformation, the intrapartum and early neonatal mortality rate was 2/2248 (0.09%) in the group delivered vaginally and 2/4029 (0.05%) in the group delivered by caesarean section. The relative risk was 1.81 (95% CI 0.26-12.84). Thus the difference was not statistically significant. This result was further supported after reviewing individual cases. CONCLUSIONS: The intrapartum related mortality in the group delivered vaginally was low and the result could not verify an increased mortality in term breech presentations delivered vaginally compared with those delivered by caesarean section.

Apgar Score↗

Fetal size at birth in relation to quality of blood glucose control in pregnancies complicated by pregestational diabetes mellitus.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the relation between maternal levels of blood glucose and glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) and infant size at birth in pregestational diabetes. DESIGN: Longitudinal study from 6 to 14 weeks gestation. Women were treated intensively with insulin, aiming at normoglycaemia but avoiding hypoglycaemia. Blood glucose was determined six times daily, HbA1c every four weeks. Individual mean fasting and postprandial glucose levels were calculated for three-week periods of gestation. Birthweight > 2 SD or within +/- 2 SD for gestational age and gender was classified as large (LGA) or appropriate (AGA), respectively. Birthweight ratio was calculated as the ratio of birthweight to normal mean birthweight after correction for gestational age and gender. PARTICIPANTS: One hundred and thirteen consecutive pregnant women with pregestational diabetes and their newborn infants. RESULTS: Perinatal mortality was nil, the rates of spontaneous preterm delivery (8.9%) and severe maternal hypoglycaemia (4.4%) were low. Mothers with LGA infants (26%) had a significantly higher fasting glucose between weeks 27 and 32 than mothers of AGA infants (P < 0.01). Relative birthweight was significantly and independently associated with pre-pregnancy bodyweight (r = 0.24, P < 0.05) and fasting glucose at weeks 27 to 29 (r = 0.27, P < 0.01) but together could only explain 12.3% of the variation in birthweight (mult. r = 0.35, P < 0.01). HbA1c correlated with glucose levels but was unrelated to birthweight ratio. The fasting glucose level between weeks 30 and 32 was significantly interrelated with the fasting glucose level from each of the six preceding three-week periods. CONCLUSION: Near normoglycaemia cannot be obtained in all patients, presumably due to intrinsic differences in glucoregulatory ability between individuals. The incidence of LGA infants was unexpectedly high. The modest abnormality in glycaemic control in mothers with LGA infants could only partly explain fetal oversize, suggesting that other factors must be implicated to explain fetal growth acceleration.

Adolescent↗

Increased molar proinsulin-to-insulin ratio in women with previous gestational diabetes does not predict later impairment of glucose tolerance.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate if an increased proinsulin-to-insulin ratio (PI/I) in former gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) subjects could be a marker for later impairment of glucose tolerance. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: This study is a prospective follow-up. In a previous follow-up study of former GDM subjects 3-4 years after an index pregnancy, an increased PI/I was found also in normoglycemic nonobese former GDM subjects compared with control subjects. A 75-g oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) was performed 3 years after the first follow-up, i.e., 6-7 years after the index pregnancy in 97 of the former GDM subjects and in 23 control subjects. A 75-g OGTT according to the World Health Organization was performed. Glucose, insulin, proinsulin, and C-peptide were determined at 0, 30, 60, 90, 120, 150, and 180 min after the glucose intake. RESULTS: Since the first follow-up, an additional 3 in 97 (3.1%) and 15 in 97 (15.5%) of the former GDM subjects had NIDDM or impaired glucose tolerance (IGT), respectively. All control subjects still had a normal OGTT. The fasting PI/I at follow-ups 1 and 2 was significantly correlated in the former GDM subjects (r = 0.41, P < 0.001) and in the control group (r = 0.46, P < 0.05). There was no significant correlation between the PI/I in follow-up 1 and the fasting or 2-h glucose values at follow-up 2. If GDM subjects with a PI/I in the upper quartile in the first follow-up were compared with those with a lower PI/I, there were no significant differences in outcome of OGTT in the second follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: The hypothesis that an increased fasting PI/I is a marker for later development of NIDDM or IGT in former GDM subjects could not be supported.

Adult↗

Gestational diabetes mellitus and paradoxical fetal macrosomia--a case report.

Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is associated with an increased rate of fetal macrosomia. We describe the outcome of two pregnancies complicated by GDM occurring 2 years apart in a normal-weight woman. Despite adequate maternal blood glucose control during gestation, both infants were markedly oversized at birth (birth weight and length exceeded normal means by 3 and 2 S.D., respectively). The placental weights were far above normal. At birth, the siblings shared the typical appearance of a diabetes fetopathy. The first one developed transient, the second persistent neonatal hypoglycemia associated with hyperinsulinemia, that needed treatment with diazoxide for 2.5 months. Both infants normalized their growth rates during the following months; their psychomotor development assessed at 2 years and at 9 months of age, respectively, was normal. During the last trimester of the second pregnancy, the plasma concentration of placental lactogen (PL) increased to a very high level (19 micrograms/l). The maternal early insulin response to glucose increased significantly with gestation and was much above that in the non-pregnant state. This rise in insulin response could not compensate for the concomitant decrease in insulin sensitivity as assessed by the minimal model according to Bergman [2]. The pronounced fetal macrosomia described cannot be attributed to GDM only. We speculate that excess activity of lactogenic hormones like PL beside glucose contribute to exaggerated fetal beta-cell function with growth acceleration and neonatal hypoglycemia. This hypothesis is in accordance with in vitro evidence indicating that PL may have an important role in the regulation of the maternal and fetal beta-cell mass and function.

Adult↗

Blood glucose limits in the diagnosis of impaired glucose tolerance during pregnancy. Relation to morbidity.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the accuracy of diagnosing gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) by a 2-h blood glucose value > or = 9.0 mmol/l in the 75 g oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT). The maternal and neonatal outcome in women with a 2-h blood glucose value just below this limit, 8.0-8.9 mmol/l, is analyzed. The outcome is compared to a randomly selected control group. DESIGN: A comparative study. SUBJECTS: There were 223 women in the group with a 2-h value of 8.0 to 8.9 mmol/l in the OGTT. This group was compared to a randomly selected control group of 391 women. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Fetal outcome: perinatal mortality, birth weight, respiratory disturbances, symptomatic hypoglycemia, polycythemia, hyperbilirubinemia and traumatic deliveries. Maternal age, body mass index (BMI), pregnancy-induced hypertension (PIH) or preeclampsia and route of delivery. RESULTS: The women in the group with a 2-h glucose value of 8.0-8.9 mmol/l were, compared to the control group, significantly older, heavier, had a higher BMI, gave birth to heavier children and a significantly increased number of large-for-date infants, while there were no differences in neonatal mortality, morbidity or birth trauma. CONCLUSIONS: This study shows that using the 75 g 2-h OGTT with a B-glucose limit of > or = 9.0 mmol/l instead of > or = 8.0 mmol/l to diagnose GDM during pregnancy has no major adverse effects concerning maternal and neonatal outcome in the borderline interval of 8.0 to 8.9 mmol/l.

Birth Weight↗

The prevalence of red cell antibodies in pregnancy correlated to the outcome of the newborn: a 12 year study in central Sweden.

BACKGROUND: All maternal red cell antibodies found during pregnancy in a 12 year period have been compiled. The efficacy of the current antenatal screening and management programme has been ascertained by reviewing the outcome of all newborns to these immunized mothers. METHOD: Patient selection was carried out by computerised searching for all known records of registered antibodies during the study period. Each mother's obstetric record and her baby's hospital file was studied and relevant clinical treatment and laboratory data on both mother and child was recorded and analysed. RESULTS: Eight hundred and twenty-one alloantibodies were detected in 629 immunized pregnant women with 753 fetuses. An overall antibody incidence of 0.57% was observed which included 373 clinically significant antibodies found in 261 mothers (0.24%). Multiple antibodies were present in 8.2% of all samples. Anti-D, by itself or in combination with other Rh-antibodies, caused more severe forms of hemolytic disease of the newborn (HDN) with 46% of all Rh-positive babies having phototherapy and 29% having exchange transfusion. Three of 18 Fya-positive infants required phototherapy and one required exchange transfusion and in the 16 Kell-positive babies, three required phototherapy and one required exchange transfusions. CONCLUSIONS: Few antibodies to blood group antigens other than those in the Rhesus system were found to cause severe HDN. Antibodies that are generally considered non-significant did not cause HDN in this study. All antibodies that induced HDN were detected in time so that adequate measures could be taken to reduce the effects in the newborn. The antenatal screening and management programme currently in use is considered to be reliable.

Diagnosis, Computer-Assisted↗

Hormonal, metabolic, and circulatory responses to insulin-induced hypoglycemia in pregnant and nonpregnant women with insulin-dependent diabetes.

Strict blood glucose control of pregnant women with insulin-dependent diabetes is associated with increased risk of hypoglycemia. The hormonal and circulatory responses to an acute episode of insulin-induced hypoglycemia were studied in eight pregestational and one gestational diabetic women during the last trimester of pregnancy and 8 to 12 weeks postpartum. Following an overnight fast, insulin was injected intravenously (0.1 to 0.2 IU insulin/kg). Blood samples were taken at -15, 0, 15, 30, 40, 60, 90, and 120 minutes for analyses of metabolites (glucose, nonesterified fatty acid (NEFA), glycerol, 3-hydroxybutyrate) and counterregulatory hormones (epinephrine, norepinephrine, glucagon, and cortisol). Placental scintigraphy (indium-113m) was performed in five pregnant patients before and during hypoglycemia. Both during pregnancy and postpartum, blood glucose decreased to the same low level (3.2 mmol/L) concomitantly with significant decreases in NEFA, glycerol, and 3-hydroxybutyrate. Epinephrine and norepinephrine showed significant and similar increases on both occasions in relation to hypoglycemia, although there was no response in glucagon and cortisol concentrations. Maternal heart rate was significantly higher in the pregnant compared with the nonpregnant state and increased significantly in both groups in response to hypoglycemia. Placental blood flow showed no consistent changes and was unrelated to the glucose and catecholamine responses. Fetal heart rate remained unchanged. Thus, it seems as if hormonal and circulatory responses to acute hypoglycemia are not altered in diabetic women during pregnancy.

3-Hydroxybutyric Acid↗