Improved pregnancy outcome in gestational diabetes mellitus patients treated with insulin aspart and metformin: a comparative study

Am J Transl Res. 2024 Apr 15;16(4):1177-1187. doi: 10.62347/NIGM4906. eCollection 2024.

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the impact of combining metformin with insulin aspart on blood glucose control, renal injury, and pregnancy outcome in gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) patients.

Methods: In this retrospective analysis, the clinical data of 140 GDM patients treated at Baoji Maternal and Child Health Hospital between March 2020 and March 2022 were studied. The patients were divided into a control group (insulin aspart alone, n=64) and an observation group (combination of insulin aspart and metformin, n=76) according to their treatment regimen. The blood glucose metabolism, renal injury markers, and pregnancy outcomes between the two groups were assessed and compared.

Results: The observation group demonstrated significantly lower levels of blood glucose metabolism markers (fasting plasma glucose [FPG], fasting insulin [FINS], mean amplitude of glycemic excursions [MAGE], and mean of daily differences [MODD]), renal injury indicators (microalbuminuria [mAlb], serum cystatin C [CysC], free fatty acids [FFA], and neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin [NGAL]), and inflammatory markers (interleukin-6 [IL-6], transforming growth factor-β1 [TGF-β1], and lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 [Lp-PLA2]) compared to the control group (all P<0.05). Additionally, the incidence of adverse pregnancy outcomes in both newborns and mothers was lower in the observation group (P<0.05). Logistic regression analysis identified the treatment regimen, patient age, and pre-pregnancy BMI as independent risk factors for adverse pregnancy outcome.

Conclusion: The combination of metformin and insulin aspart in treating GDM can effectively reduce blood glucose levels, mitigate renal injury, and improve pregnancy outcome. This treatment approach presents a viable option for optimizing maternal and fetal health in GDM cases.

Keywords: Insulin aspart; gestational diabetes mellitus; metformin; pregnancy outcomes.