We use cookies to understand how you use our site and to improve your experience. This includes personalizing content and advertising. To learn more, click here. By continuing to use our site, you accept our use of cookies. Cookie Policy.

Features Partner Sites Information LinkXpress hp
Sign In
Advertise with Us
LGC Clinical Diagnostics

Download Mobile App




Gestational Diabetes May Predict Autoimmune Diabetes Risk

By LabMedica International staff writers
Posted on 15 Jun 2021
Gestational diabetes is high blood sugar (glucose) that develops during pregnancy and usually disappears after giving birth. More...
It can happen at any stage of pregnancy, but is more common in the second or third trimester.

Autoimmune diabetes, commonly referred to as type 1 diabetes mellitus (an older synonym is insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus), is a chronic immune-mediated disease characterized by insulin deficiency due to pancreatic islet beta-cell destruction with increasing blood glucose levels.

Medical Scientists at the Helsinki University Hospital (Helsinki, Finland) in a prospective cohort study, analyzed data from 391 women with gestational diabetes and 391 age-, parity- and delivery date-matched controls who delivered from 1984 through 1994 and underwent autoantibody testing during the first trimester of pregnancy. The team assessed levels of four autoantibodies associated with type 1 diabetes: Islet cell autoantibodies (ICA), glutamic acid decarboxylase autoantibodies (GADA), insulin autoantibodies (IAA) and insulinoma-associated antigen-2 autoantibodies (IA-2A). Women completed a follow-up questionnaire assessing later type 1 or type 2 diabetes diagnosis in 2012-2013. The mean follow-up time was 23 years.

The scientists observed single autoantibody positivity in 41(12%) of the gestational diabetes cohort and in eight (2.3%) of the control cohort. In the gestational diabetes cohort, nine (2.6%) tested positive for two autoantibodies and eight (2.3%) tested positive for three autoantibodies, whereas only one woman in the control cohort had two autoantibodies detected. Islet cell autoantibodies (ICA) positivity was found in 12.5% of cases, followed by GADA (6%), IA-2A (4.9%) and IAA (1.2%). In the control cohort, GADA positivity was found in 1.4% of cases, followed by IA-2A (0.8%), IAA (0.6%) and ICA (0.3%). All women with three positive autoantibodies developed type 1 diabetes within seven years from pregnancy with gestational diabetes. Development of type 2 diabetes and gestational diabetes occurred independent of autoantibody positivity.

Kaisu Luiro-Helve, MD, PhD, consultant in obstetrics and gynecology and reproductive endocrinology and senior author of the study, said, “If you are not the typical gestational diabetes candidate, but you have it, that may warrant more screening. Type 1 diabetes is not just a disease of the young. Type 1 usually occurs within 10 years of gestational diabetes, and that is the time when we need to stay alert and perhaps conduct another oral glucose tolerance test. Do not forget about these women after delivery.” The study was presented at the European Congress of Endocrinology virtual meeting held May 22-26, 2021.

Related Links:
Helsinki University Hospital


Gold Member
Quantitative POC Immunoassay Analyzer
EASY READER+
3-Part Differential Hematology Analyzer
Swelab Alfa Plus Sampler
New
Gold Member
Quality Control Material
iPLEX Pro Exome QC Panel
New
Staining System
RAL DIFF-QUIK
Read the full article by registering today, it's FREE! It's Free!
Register now for FREE to LabMedica.com and get access to news and events that shape the world of Clinical Laboratory Medicine.
  • Free digital version edition of LabMedica International sent by email on regular basis
  • Free print version of LabMedica International magazine (available only outside USA and Canada).
  • Free and unlimited access to back issues of LabMedica International in digital format
  • Free LabMedica International Newsletter sent every week containing the latest news
  • Free breaking news sent via email
  • Free access to Events Calendar
  • Free access to LinkXpress new product services
  • REGISTRATION IS FREE AND EASY!
Click here to Register








DIASOURCE (A Biovendor Company)

Channels

Hematology

view channel
Image: CitoCBC is the world first cartridge-based CBC to be granted CLIA Waived status by FDA (Photo courtesy of CytoChip)

Disposable Cartridge-Based Test Delivers Rapid and Accurate CBC Results

Complete Blood Count (CBC) is one of the most commonly ordered lab tests, crucial for diagnosing diseases, monitoring therapies, and conducting routine health screenings. However, more than 90% of physician... Read more

Pathology

view channel
These images illustrate how precision oncology Organ Chips recapitulate individual patients’ responses to chemotherapy (Photo courtesy of Wyss Institute at Harvard University)

Cancer Chip Accurately Predicts Patient-Specific Chemotherapy Response

Esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC), one of the two primary types of esophageal cancer, ranks as the sixth leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide and currently lacks effective targeted therapies.... Read more
Copyright © 2000-2025 Globetech Media. All rights reserved.