Insulin glargine safe for pregnant diabetics
April 20, 2007 08:43:25 PM PST
The use of insulin glargine, a man-made type of insulin, for diabetes
during pregnancy does not increase the risk of complications for the
developing baby, findings from a pilot study indicate.
In experimental studies, man-made insulin has been shown to have
growth-promoting effects. Concerns have therefore been raised that use
of insulin glargine during pregnancy could cause excessive fetal growth
and other problems. A recent review actually recommended against the use
of the agent during pregnancy, but called for further studies to
investigate its safety.
As reported in the BJOG: British Journal of Obstetric and Gynecology,
Dr. N. Price and colleagues, from John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford, UK,
evaluated 20 pregnant women with type I diabetes and 44 with gestational
diabetes, which develops during pregnancy and usually disappears after
delivery. Half of the women used insulin glargine and the other half
used standard insulin.
No significant differences in birthweight were noted between infants
born to insulin glargine users and those born to standard insulin users.
In fact, the rate of excessively large babies was actually slightly
lower in the insulin glargine group: 38 versus 41 percent.
The groups were also comparable in terms of infant complications,
admission to special care infant units, and congenital abnormalities,
the report indicates.
"We believe that our results justify large…trials to confirm the
efficacy and safety of insulin glargine in the treatment of pregnant
women with type I diabetes and those who develop diabetes during
pregnancy," the authors conclude.