HÆMOGLOBIN A1 IN DIABETIC PREGNANCY

Serum-haemoglobin A 1 did not alter in normal pregnancy but in pregnant diabetic patients HbA 1 was raised in the first trimester, falling as the pregnancy progressed, presumably because of better diabetic control.

Abstract

Serum-hæmoglobin A1 (HbA1) did not alter in normal pregnancy but in pregnant diabetic patients HbA1 was raised in the first trimester, falling as the pregnancy progressed, presumably because of better diabetic control. Post partum, when the control was relaxed, HbA1 increased. In diabetics at 36 weeks gestation HbA1 correlated with the fasting blood-glucose 4 weeks previously. 3 out of 5 pregnant diabetics whose HbA1 was greater on presentation than that of well-controlled diabetics gave birth to children with fatal congenital abnormalities. No abnormalities were detected in children born of mothers with an HbA1 level within the range for well-controlled diabetes.