Association between preconceptional treatment with insulin pumps and improved metabolic status in early pregnancy in women with type 1 diabetes

INTRODUCTION An adverse intrauterine environment in early pregnancy in women with type 1 diabetes is associated with several perinatal complications including spontaneous abortions, fetal congenital defects, and preeclampsia.

OBJECTIVES We compared metabolic parameters in the first trimester of pregnancy between women with type 1 diabetes treated with continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion (CSII) and those treated with multiple daily injections (MDI).

PATIENTS AND METHODS A total of 168 women in the first trimester of pregnancy (33 using CSII and 135 using MDI) were enrolled in this cross‑sectional single‑center study. Anthropometric parameters, fasting serum levels of hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), lipid profile, and estimated glucose disposal rate (eGDR) were determined. 

RESULTS Patients did not differ in gestational or maternal age, diabetes duration, and the frequency of planned pregnancies. Women using CSII before pregnancy had lower body mass index and waist‑to‑hip ratio than those using MDI (22.3 vs 23.3 and 0.77 vs 0.79, respectively, P = 0.01). A similar number of women had hypertension; however, the CSII group had lower diastolic blood pressure (P = 0.02). Moreover, the CSII group had a significantly lower insulin requirement (0.54 vs 0.63 units/kg; P = 0.02), significantly higher eGDR (11.3 vs 10.5 mg/kg/min; P = 0.0007), and significantly lower serum triglyceride levels (53.1 vs 61.8 mg/dl; P = 0.004). In a multiple regression analysis, CSII therapy was associated with higher eGDR, lower HbA1c, and lower serum triglyceride levels. 

CONCLUSIONS The use of CSII before pregnancy in patients with type 1 diabetes is associated with better metabolic profile in the first trimester.