Background: Adiponectin, adipocyte fatty acid-binding protein (A-FABP), and fibroblast growth factor-19 (FGF-19) belong to proteins involved in glucose metabolism regulation. The aims of the study were to compare the plasma levels of these proteins in women with early diagnosed gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) to those in healthy controls and to investigate their changes during pregnancy after early intervention. Methods: The study was undertaken as a case-control study. Early GDM diagnosis was based on repeated fasting plasma glucose ≥5.1 and <7.0 mmol/L during the first trimester of pregnancy and exclusion of overt diabetes. Age-matched controls comprised healthy pregnant and non-pregnant women. In addition to adipokines, clinical parameters and measures of glucose control were assessed. Results: Women with GDM (n = 23) had significantly lower adiponectin and higher A-FABP levels compared to healthy pregnant (n = 29) or non-pregnant (n = 25) controls, while no significant differences in FGF-19 between the groups were found. The therapeutic intervention shifted adiponectin and A-FABP levels in GDM women towards concentrations of healthy pregnant controls. Adipokines were associated with visceral adiposity and glucose control. Conclusion: Women with GDM showed altered adipokine production even in the first trimester of pregnancy. Early therapeutic intervention not only improved glucose control but also normalized impaired adipokine production.

Background: To evaluate the association between hypertriglyceridemic waist (HTGW), a promising marker of visceral adiposity and cardiovascular (CV) risk, and different indicators of vascular damage in type 2 diabetes (T2D) patients. Methods: This case-control study included 161 patients with T2D (91 males, 70 females) and 40 healthy controls (24 males, 16 females). HTWG was defined as waist circumference >90 cm in men or >85 cm in women and triglyceride concentrations >2 mmol/L. In addition to anthropometric and metabolic parameters, markers of endothelial dysfunction, namely von Willebrand factor (vWF) and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1), were assessed. Arterial stiffness parameters were examined using the SphygmoCor system. Results: Individuals with T2D and HTGW showed the highest elevation of PAI-1 levels and significantly increased vWF levels compared with healthy controls. No significant differences in arterial stiffness markers were observed between T2D individuals. Age and, for several markers, systolic and/or diastolic blood pressure were identified as the main predictors for arterial stiffness, whereas PAI-1 and vWF levels were predicted by metabolic parameters. Conclusions: HTGW represents increased CV risk in T2D patients, mainly due to endothelial damage. The presence of HTGW had no significant effect on arterial stiffness compared with other T2D individuals.

Backgrounds Glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) and glucose-dependent insulinotropic peptide (GIP) may be involved in pathogenesis of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). The aim was to compare GLP-1 and GIP production in fasting state and during 3 h mixed meal tolerance test (MMTT) measured by mean area under the curve (AUC) between pregnant women with normal and impaired fasting glucose in an early phase of pregnancy, and healthy non-pregnant controls. Methods This study was undertaken as a case–control study. Repeated measurement of fasting plasma glucose ≥ 5.1 mmol/L and < 7.0 mmol/L during the first trimester of pregnancy and exclusion of overt diabetes according to IADSPG criteria was used to find women with impaired fasting glucose (n = 22). Age-matched controls consisted of healthy pregnant (n = 25) and non-pregnant (n = 24) women. In addition to incretins, anthropometric parameters and markers of insulin resistance and beta-cell function were assessed. Variables were summarized as median (interquartile range). Results Fasting GLP-1 and GIP concentration or their AUC during MMTT did not significantly differ between pregnant women with impaired fasting plasma glucose [GLP-1AUC 19.0 (53.1) and GIPAUC 302 (100) pg/mL/min] and healthy pregnant women [GLP-1AUC 16.7 (22.3) and GIPAUC 297 (142) pg/mL/min] or non-pregnant controls [GLP-1AUC 16.8 (9.8) and for GIPAUC 313 (98) pg/mL/min]. Although women with impaired fasting glucose were more obese and showed decreased beta-cell function, there were not significant correlations between incretin production and parameters of insulin secretion, insulin resistance, or obesity. Conclusions Women with impaired fasting plasma glucose did not show altered incretin production in the first trimester of pregnancy. In contrast to type 2 diabetes, impaired incretin secretion does not seem to play a major role in the early development of GDM.

The development of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) affects lipid metabolism during pregnancy. However, the magnitude of changes in lipid parameters is unclear. In addition, the patterns of these changes may vary based on the criteria selected for making the diagnosis of GDM. Thus, our aim was to compare the anthropometric and laboratory profiles of GDM-associated vs. GDM-free gestation with those of healthy non-pregnant women. We designed a cross-sectional study involving a group of females affected by GDM, a group of healthy pregnant controls and a group of healthy non-pregnant counterparts. GDM patients were divided into 3 subgroups according to the fulfilled diagnostic criteria, that is, those presenting with high fasting plasma glucose in the first trimester (subgroup 1), high fasting plasma glucose in the second trimester (subgroup 2) and high plasma glucose following oral glucose load in the second trimester (subgroup 3). The anthropometric and metabolic profiles of GDM subjects resembled the facets of metabolic syndrome (highest body mass index, waist circumference, C-peptide level, triglycerides) significantly more than the respective profiles of healthy non-pregnant women (p<0.0001). While total cholesterol (TC) (together with LDL-C and non-HDL-C) in pregnant women with GDM and without GDM did not differ, both groups had significantly higher levels of triglycerides (TG) than non-pregnant women (p<0.0001). Subgroup 1 had the highest fasting glucose level in the second trimester whereas subgroup 3 had the lowest fasting glucose level (p=0.019). Concentration of TG increased, being the lowest in subgroup 1 and the highest in subgroup 3 (p=0.006). Women with GDM had more pronounced features of metabolic syndrome than pregnant women without GDM. Both groups reached higher levels of TC (LDL-C, non-HDL-C) than non-pregnant controls and did not differ from each other. We found differences in TG and fasting glucose levels among different types of GDM

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Introduction: One of the most common chronic complications of diabetes mellitus is diabetic neuropathy. The aim of the study was to elucidate the association between selected markers of oxidative stress and markers of vascular stiffness and to contribute to the understanding of the pathophysiological links between oxidative stress and micro- and macrovascular complications of diabetes. Methods: We enrolled patients with type 2 DM (n = 49), with moderate to severe diabetic polyneuropathy of lower extremities, and a control group without microvascular complications (n = 29). The neuropathy group received alpha-lipoic acid infusion therapy. Sampling was performed before and after treatment to determine the level of oxidative markers (advanced glycation end-products—AGEs, glycation products of AOPP proteins, MDA malondialdehyde and oxidized LDL), parameters of metabolic control and parameters of vascular wall stiffness were measured by sphygmomanometry. Results: After the administration of alpha-lipoic acid, we demonstrated a significant reduction in the level of three selected oxidation markers (AOPP: p < 0.001, AGE: p < 0.001, oxLDL: p < 0.05). In contrast, the level of MDA did not change significantly (p = 0.83). Throughout the group, oxLDL was significantly correlated with central BP (SBP and DBP in the aorta, p < 0.05 and <0.01) and with the augmentation index (AiX/75 bpm, p < 0.01). AOPP significantly correlated with systolic BP in the aorta (p < 0.05). We did not find significant associations in the remaining oxidation markers. Conclusion: In our study, we demonstrated a reduction in the level of oxidative markers after alpha-lipoic acid administration and also an association between markers of oxidative damage to lipids and proteins (oxLDL and AOPP) and some parameters of vascular stiffness.

Background: Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is characterized by new-onset hyperglycemia in pregnancy. According to the International Association of Diabetes and Pregnancy Study Groups (IADPSG) recommendations, GDM may be diagnosed based on repeatedly increased fasting glucose levels in the first trimester, or later, the detection of increased fasting glucose and/or increased glucose levels during a 75 g oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT). The study aimed to assess whether differences may be found between women diagnosed with GDM by fasting glucose or glucose challenge tests in early or late pregnancy. Methods: The retrospective observational study enrolled 418 women diagnosed with GDM in accordance with the IADPSG criteria: early pregnancy fasting plasma glucose (FPG) ≥ 5.1 mmol/L; late pregnancy FPG ≥ 5.1 mmol/L (0 min) and/or postprandial plasma glucose (PPG) ≥ 10.0 mmol/L (60 min), PPG ≥ 8.5 mmol/L (120 min) 75 g OGTT. The analyses included anthropometric parameters at the beginning and during pregnancy, laboratory values of glycated hemoglobin, fructosamine, birth weight measures and the presence of neonatal complications. Results: There were significant differences in body weight (78.3 ± 19.1; 74.0 ± 16.7; 67.2 ± 15.7 kg) and body mass index (BMI) (27.9 ± 6.6; 26.4 ± 5.8; 24.4 ± 5.2 kg/m2) in early pregnancy. Differences were also found in gestational weight gain (9.3 ± 6.8 vs. 12.4 ± 6.9 vs. 11.1 ± 4.7 kg) and the need for insulin therapy (14.7%; 7.1%; 4.0%). The study revealed no difference in the presence of neonatal complications but differences in birth weight (3372.2 ± 552.2 vs. 3415.6 ± 529.0 vs. 3199.0 ± 560.5 g). Conclusions: Gestational diabetes, characterized by FPG ≥ 5.1 mmol/L in early pregnancy, is associated with higher body weight and BMI at the beginning of pregnancy as well as with a higher risk for insulin therapy and increased birth weight.

Diabetes is one of the main risk factors for vascular damage, including endothelial dysfunction and arterial stiffness. The aim of this study was to compare selected parameters of vascular damage in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D) in different age categories and to determine their relationship to indicators of glycometabolic control. A total of 160 patients with T2D were included in this cross-sectional study. They were divided into four age quartiles (with mean ages of 42.1 ± 4.5, 51.6 ± 1.4, 59.2 ± 3.0, and 69.8 ± 3.8, respectively). All subjects were evaluated for indicators of glycometabolic control and for arterial stiffness parameters along with markers of endothelial damage—tissue plasminogen activator (tPA), plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) and von Willebrand factor (vWF). The oldest compared to the youngest participants showed significantly increased parameters of arterial stiffness (augmentation pressure 13.4 ± 8.6 vs. 6.7 ± 4.4 mm Hg, augmentation index 26.2 ± 11.3 vs. 19.6 ± 9.2 mm Hg, aortic pulse pressure 47.7 ± 17.1 vs. 33.7 ± 10.4 mm Hg, and pulse wave velocity 11.9 (10.1–14.3) vs. 8.2 (7.7–9.8) m/s) despite having similar glycometabolic control. Arterial stiffness parameters were mainly associated with age and blood pressure. Age and systolic blood pressure were major determinants of arterial stiffness regardless of glycometabolic control. The oldest patients also had the highest levels of vWF (153.7 ± 51.9 vs. 121.7 ± 42.5 %) but the lowest levels of PAI-1 (81.8 ± 47.5 vs. 90.0 ± 44.9 ng/mL). Markers of endothelial dysfunction correlated with metabolic parameters, but did not correlate with arterial stiffness. Age and systolic blood pressure are major determinants of arterial stiffness in patients with T2D regardless of glycometabolic control, whereas an unfavorable metabolic profile is mainly related to endothelial dysfunction. These results suggest a differential contribution of cardiometabolic risk factors to vascular damage in T2D patients over their lifetime.