Junhong Leng

Prevalence of Gestational Diabetes Mellitus and Its Risk Factors in Chinese Pregnant Women: A Prospective Population-Based Study in Tianjin, China

Objective We compared the increases in the prevalence of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) based on the 1999 World Health Organization (WHO) criteria and its risk factors in Tianjin, China, over a 12-year period. We also examined the changes in the prevalence using the criteria of International Association of Diabetes and Pregnancy Study Group (IADPSG). Methods In 2010-2012, 18589 women who registered within 12 weeks of gestation underwent a glucose challenge test (GCT) at 24-28 gestational weeks. Amongst them, 2953 women with 1-hour plasma glucose ≥7.8 mmol/L underwent a 75-gram 2-hour oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) and 781 women had a positive GCT but absented from the standard OGTT. An adjusted prevalence of GDM was calculated for the whole cohort of women by including an estimate of the proportion of women with positive GCTs who did not have OGTTs but would have been expected to have GDM. Logistic regression was used to obtain odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals using the IADPSG criteria. The prevalence of GDM risk factors was compared to the 1999 survey. Results The adjusted prevalence of GDM by the 1999 WHO criteria was 8.1%, a 3.5-fold increase as in 1999. Using the IADPSG criteria increased the adjusted prevalence further to 9.3%. Advanced age, higher pre-pregnancy body mass index, Han-nationality, higher systolic blood pressure (BP), a family history of diabetes, weight gain during pregnancy and habitual smoking were risk factors for GDM. Compared to the 1999 survey, the prevalence of overweight plus obesity had increased by 1.8 folds, age≥30 years by 2.3 folds, systolic BP by 2.3 mmHg over the 12-year period. Conclusions Increasing prevalence of overweight/obesity and older age at pregnancy were accompanied by increasing prevalence of GDM, further increased by change in diagnostic criteria.

Tianjin Gestational Diabetes Mellitus Prevention Program: study design, methods, and 1-year interim report on the feasibility of lifestyle intervention program.

OBJECTIVE To assess whether lifestyle intervention can reduce type 2 diabetes risk in women with prior GDM in the Tianjin Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (GDM) Prevention Program. METHODS 1180 women who were diagnosed with GDM from 2005 to 2009 were randomly assigned to either a lifestyle intervention (n=586) or a control group (n=594). Major elements of the intervention include six face-to-face meetings with study dietitians in the first year, and two additional sessions and two telephone calls in second year. RESULTS During the first year, average body weight loss in the first 404 subjects was 1.40 kg (2.1%) in the intervention group vs 0.21 kg (0.3%) in the control group (P=0.001), and the decrease was more significant among baseline overweight women (body bass index [BMI]≥24 kg/m²) in the intervention (2.91 kg/4.2%) compared with that in the control group (0.51 kg/0.7%) (P<0.001). In addition, women in the intervention group, compared with those in the control group, have decreased BMI, body fat, waist circumference, and plasma insulin levels, and have improved behaviors including increased leisure time activity and dietary fiber intake and decreased sedentary time and fat consumptions. CONCLUSION The interim results support the efficacy and feasibility of the lifestyle intervention program.

Prepregnancy body mass index and weight change on postpartum diabetes risk among gestational diabetes women

To evaluate the effects of prepregnancy BMI and weight change from prepregnancy to postpartum on postpartum type 2 diabetes (T2D) risk among women with gestational diabetes (GDM).

Lifestyle intervention can reduce the risk of gestational diabetes: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

This study aimed to examine the effect of lifestyle intervention on the risk of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). We searched PubMed, Springer and other databases to retrieve articles published in English and Chinese up to 30 September 2015. The inclusion criteria were randomized controlled trials evaluating the effects of lifestyle intervention on risk of GDM. Exclusion criteria were studies with prepregnancy diabetes mellitus or interventions with nutrient supplements. Random‐effect and fixed‐effect model analyses were used to obtain pooled relative risks and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of diet and physical activity on the risk of GDM. Subgroup analyses were performed to check the consistency of effect sizes across groups where appropriate. We identified 29 randomized controlled trials with 11,487 pregnant women, addressing the effect of lifestyle intervention on the risk of GDM. In the pooled analysis, either diet or physical activity resulted in an 18% (95%CI 5–30%) reduction in the risk of GDM (P = 0.0091). Subgroup analysis showed that such intervention was effective among women with intervention before the 15th gestational week (relative risk: 0.80, 95%CI 0.66–0.97), but not among women receiving the intervention afterwards. We conclude that lifestyle modification during pregnancy, especially before the 15th gestational week, can reduce the risk of GDM.

Different Associations of Diabetes With β-Cell Dysfunction and Insulin Resistance Among Obese and Nonobese Chinese Women With Prior Gestational Diabetes Mellitus

OBJECTIVE To examine the relative contributions of β-cell dysfunction and insulin resistance to postpartum diabetes risk among obese and nonobese women with prior gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS We performed a cross-sectional survey 1–5 years after 1,263 women who had GDM gave birth. Polytomous logistic regression models were used to assess the associations of β-cell dysfunction (the lower quartile of HOMA-%β), insulin resistance (the upper quartile of HOMA-IR), decreased insulin sensitivity (the lower quartile of HOMA-%S), and different categories of BMI with prediabetes and diabetes risk. RESULTS β-Cell dysfunction, insulin resistance, and decreased insulin sensitivity all were significantly associated with hyperglycemic status across normal weight, overweight, and obese groups, and the patterns of insulin resistance and decreased insulin sensitivity were similar. BMI was inversely associated with β-cell dysfunction and positively associated with insulin resistance across normal glucose, prediabetes, and diabetes categories. Compared with women with normal glucose and weight, obese women with normal glucose had increased β-cell secretory function (odds ratio [OR] 0.09 [95% CI 0.02–0.37]) and insulin resistance (OR 17.4 [95% CI 9.47–31.9]). Normal weight diabetic women displayed the most β-cell dysfunction (OR 13.6 [95% CI 4.06–45.3]), whereas obese diabetic women displayed the highest insulin resistance (OR 45.8 [95% CI 18.5–113]). CONCLUSIONS For women with prior GDM, β-cell dysfunction had more pronounced contribution to postpartum diabetes among nonobese subjects, whereas insulin resistance contributed more to postpartum hyperglycemia among obese subjects.

Obesity index and the risk of diabetes among Chinese women with prior gestational diabetes.

There is some confusion regarding which anthropometric measurement of adiposity should be used to indicate diabetes, especially for Asians. The present study was to evaluate different indicators of adiposity (BMI, waist circumference and body fat) with Type 2 diabetes risk among women with prior gestational diabetes mellitus.

GDM Women’s Pre-Pregnancy Overweight/Obesity and Gestational Weight Gain on Offspring Overweight Status

Objectives To examine the association of maternal pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI) and gestational weight gain (GWG) with anthropometry in the offspring of mothers with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). Methods We performed a retrospective cohort study in 1263 GDM mother-child pairs. General linear models and Logistic regression models were used to assess the single and joint associations of maternal pre-pregnancy BMI (normal weight, overweight, and obesity) and GWG (inadequate, adequate and excessive GWG) with anthropometry and overweight status in the offspring from birth to 1-5 years old. Results Maternal pre-pregnancy BMI and GWG were positively associated with birth weight for gestational age Z score and birth weight for length for gestational age Z score at birth, and weight for age Z score, length/height for age Z score, and weight for length/height Z score at of 1-5 years old offspring. Maternal pre-pregnancy overweight, obesity, and excessive GWG were associated with increased risks of large for gestational age [ORs 95% CIs = 1.87 (1.37-2.55), 2.98 (1.89-4.69), and 2.93 (2.07-4.13), respectively] and macrosomia [ORs 95% CIs = 2.06 (1.50-2.84), 2.89 (1.78-4.70), and 2.84 (1.98-4.06), respectively] at birth and childhood overweight at 1-5 years old [ORs 95% CIs = 1.26 (0.92-1.73), 1.96 (1.24-3.09), and 1.59 (1.15-2.21), respectively]. Conclusions Offspring born to GDM mothers with pre-pregnancy overweight/obesity or excessive GWG were associated with increased risks of large for gestational age and macrosomia at birth, and childhood overweight at 1-5 years old, compared with those born to GDM mothers with pre-pregnancy normal weight and adequate GWG.

Fasting and 2-hour plasma glucose, and HbA1c in pregnancy and the postpartum risk of diabetes among Chinese women with gestational diabetes

AIMS Very few studies have assessed the association of fasting and 2h glucose, and HbA1c during pregnancy with postpartum diabetes risk among women with prior gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). We assessed the association of fasting glucose, 2h glucose and HbA1c at 26-30 gestational weeks with postpartum diabetes risk among women with prior GDM. METHODS A cohort study in 1263 GDM women at 1-5 years after delivery was performed. Cox proportional hazards regression models were used to evaluate the association of fasting and 2h plasma glucose, and HbA1c at 26-30 gestational weeks with the risk of diabetes at postpartum. RESULTS The multivariable-adjusted (age, pre-pregnancy body mass index, weight gain during pregnancy, current body mass index, family history of diabetes, marital status, education, family income, smoking status, passive smoking, leisure-time physical activity, alcohol drinking, and intake of energy, saturated fat, and dietary fiber) hazard ratios of postpartum diabetes were 1.61 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.36-1.91) for each 1 mmol/l increase in fasting glucose during pregnancy, 1.63 (95% CI: 1.45-1.84) for each 1 mmol/l increase in 2h glucose during pregnancy, 2.11 (95% CI: 1.50-2.97) for each 1 unit (%) increase in HbA1c during pregnancy. When fasting glucose, 2h glucose and HbA1c during pregnancy were entered multivariable-adjusted model simultaneously, 2h glucose and HbA1c but not fasting glucose remained to be significant and positive predictors for postpartum diabetes. CONCLUSIONS For women with prior GDM, 2h plasma glucose and HbA1c during pregnancy are independent predictors of postpartum diabetes, but fasting plasma glucose during pregnancy is not.

A randomised translational trial of lifestyle intervention using a 3-tier shared care approach on pregnancy outcomes in Chinese women with gestational diabetes mellitus but without diabetes.

Background: There are no randomised controlled trials to demonstrate whether lifestyle modifications can improve pregnancy outcomes of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) diagnosed by the International Association of Diabetes and Pregnancy Study Group’s (IADPSG) criteria. We tested the effectiveness of lifestyle modifications implemented in a 3-tier’s shared care (SC) on pregnancy outcomes of GDM. Methods: Between December 2010 and October 2012, we randomly assigned 700 women with IADPSG-defined GDM but without diabetes at 26.3 (interquartile range: 25.4-27.3) gestational weeks in Tianjin, China, to receive SC or usual care (UC). The SC group received individual consultations and group sessions and performed regular self-monitoring of blood glucose compared to one hospital-based education session in the UC group. The outcomes were macrosomia defined as birth weight ≥ 4.0 kg and the pregnancy-induced hypertension (PIH). Results: Women in the SC (n = 339) and UC (n = 361) groups delivered their infants at similar gestational weeks. Birth weight of infants in the SC group was lower than that in the UC group (3469 vs. 3371 grams, P = 0.021). The rate of macrosomia was 11.2% (38/339) in the SC group compared to 17.5% (63/361) in the UC group with relative risk (RR) of 0.64 (95% CI: 0.44-0.93). The rate of PIH was 8.0% (27/339) in the SC compared to 4.4% (16/361) in the UC with RR of 1.80 (0.99-3.28). Apgar score at 1 min < 7 was lower but preeclampsia was higher in the SC than in the UC.

Sleep duration and quality, and risk of gestational diabetes mellitus in pregnant Chinese women

To examine the association between sleep disturbances during pregnancy and risk of gestational diabetes mellitus.