Abstract

OBJECTIVE To study the frequency of have beta-cell specific autoantibody markers in women with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and to follow these women to estimate the risk of later development of type 1 diabetes.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS Out of 385 pregnant women with GDM during 1995 to 2005 in the district of Lund, 24 women (6%) were found positive for at least one of islet cell antibodies (ICA), glutamic acid decarboxylase antibodies (GADA) or tyrosine phosphatase antibodies (IA-2A). These women were followed and autoantibodies were reanalyzed and those who had not developed diabetes did an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT). Known risk factors for both GDM and type 1 diabetes were compared to women who had GDM but without pancreatic autoantibodies.

RESULTS Among the autoantibody positive women 50% had developed type 1 diabetes compared to none among the GDM controls (p=0.001), 21% had impaired fasten glucose (IFG) or impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) compared to 12,5% (p=0.3) and none had developed type 2 diabetes compared to 12.5% among controls (p=0.1).

CONCLUSIONS Autoantibody screening in pregnant women with GDM should be considered for early recognition of type 1 diabetes and subsequent follow up after delivery.