Postpartum maternal levels of hemoglobin A1c and cord C-peptide in macrosomic infants of non-diabetic mothers

Abstract

Objective: This study was designed to test the hypothesis that macrosomia in infants born to non-diabetic mothers is associated with an increased incidence of hyperinsulinemia and normal maternal glucose regulation in late pregnancy.

Methods: Twenty mothers and their macrosomic infants were chosen as the study group, and 20 mothers with their appropriate-for-gestational-age infants were chosen as the control group.

Results: No difference in postpartum mean hemoglobin A1c levels was observed between the mothers of macrosomic infants and those of control infants. Cord plasma C-peptide levels were significantly higher in macrosomic than in control infants.

Conclusions: This study revealed that macrosomic infants of non-diabetic mothers were significantly more likely to have hyperinsulinemia than were normal-sized infants, and this hyperinsulinemia was not caused by dysregulation in glucose metabolism.