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Research Article: Effect of insulin sensitivity and secretion defects at mid-pregnancy on early postpartum glucose intolerance in women with gestational diabetes mellitus

Date Published: 2026-09-07

Abstract:
This study aimed to evaluate how insulin sensitivity and secretion defects during mid-pregnancy influence the development of early postpartum glucose intolerance in women diagnosed with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). A total of 1,256 pregnant women diagnosed with GDM between October 2005 and March 2023 were enrolled. Participants were categorized into four groups: GDM-normal, GDM-secretion defect only, GDM-sensitivity defect only, and GDM-mixed defect. Postpartum glucose intolerance was defined as fasting plasma glucose ? 100 mg/dL or 2-h plasma glucose ? 140 mg/dL during a 75-g oral glucose tolerance test at 6–12 weeks after delivery. Women presenting with a sensitivity defect at mid-pregnancy showed a significantly higher rate of postpartum glucose intolerance than those without sensitivity defect (64.9% vs. 46.6%, P < 0.001). Conversely, the presence of a secretion defect alone did not result in a significant difference. The highest prevalence of postpartum glucose intolerance was observed in patients with GDM-mixed defect (GDM-normal 45.7%, GDM-secretion defect only 48.5%, GDM-sensitivity defect only 62.8%, GDM-mixed defect 91.3%; P for trend < 0.001). The risk of postpartum glucose intolerance was 1.46 times higher (95% CI 1.07-2.00) for the GDM-sensitivity defect only group and 5.43 times higher (95% CI 1.20-24.56) for the GDM-mixed defect group, compared with the GDM-normal group. Among women with GDM, impaired insulin sensitivity identified at mid-pregnancy is associated with a substantially increased risk of early postpartum glucose intolerance, whereas insulin secretion defects are not significantly related to this risk.

Introduction:
The global prevalence of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is increasing ( 1 – 3 ). Given its broad negative effects on both mothers and offspring, GDM is recognized as a significant emerging issue in global health ( 4 – 7 ). It is linked to a range of adverse perinatal outcomes, including macrosomia, neonatal hypoglycemia, shoulder dystocia, preeclampsia, and a heightened incidence of cesarean delivery ( 8 , 9 ). Notably, women with a prior history of GDM face a 50-60% lifetime risk of developing diabetes ( 10…

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