Analysis of Glucose Tolerance in Twin Gestations Using an Oral Glucose Load

Abstract

The effect of twin gestation on carbohydrate metabolism was evaluated using a 75 g oral glucose tolerance test (75 g OGTT). A 75 g OGTT was performed in 63 twin gestations and 3 791 singleton gestations during the third trimester. Plasma glucose concentrations were measured in the pregnant women under fasting conditions as well as 30 min, 1 h, and 2 h after ingestion of glucose (75 g oral load), and serum insulin concentrations were measured in fasting and 30 min post-ingestion samples. Women with twin gestations showed significantly lower plasma glucose concentrations during fasting and 30 min after the glucose load in the samples taken than those with singleton gestations. No significant difference in serum glucose concentrations was found in the other specimens. There were no cases of gestational diabetes mellitus in our study. Although women with twin gestations demonstrated lower plasma glucose concentrations than women with singleton gestations, the difference observed was subtle. We could not find any significant differences in these plasma glucose values as used to define a pathologic OGTT between twin and singleton pregnancies, with the exception of the fasting value.

Outcome of twin pregnancies associated with glucose intolerance

“…of Pages 6 Table 3 Vaginal delivery compared with caesarean section (C-section). not find any difference for the risk of GDM between twin and singleton populations [14][15][16][17]. The frequency of GDM in our area was 6.1% and 5% for the glucose intolerance in the "DIAGEST" study [18].…”

Characteristics of the oral glucose tolerance test in women with different pre-pregnancy body mass index and the effect of gestational diabetes mellitus on twin pregnancy outcomes

“…Studies conducted in the 1980s found no significant difference in the incidence of GDM among women with single and twin pregnancies. 18 , 19 , 20 , 21 With the constant change of diagnostic criteria and the deepening of GDM research, differences between pregnancy types have gradually been discovered. Most researchers have documented that twin pregnancies present a higher risk than singleton pregnancies.…”

“…Domestic studies and those conducted outside of China have found that GDM is related to many factors, such as the age of pregnant women and pre-pregnancy BMI. 16 17 27 Pre-pregnancy overweight or obesity is a high-risk factor for GDM, 20 while twin pregnancies and singleton pregnancies have similar high-risk factors, among which obesity is an independent risk factor for GDM in women with twin pregnancies. 12 28 29 …”

Hyperglycemia and Pregnancy

“…. Estos hallazgos coinciden con reportes previos que han señalado que la GAM disminuye en los embarazos gemelares comparado con los embarazos simples (15)(16)(17) .…”