Efficacy of metformin versus insulin in the management of pregnancy with diabetes

Abstract

Objective: To compare the efficacy of metformin with insulin in the management of pregnancy with diabetes.

Study design: Randomized clinical trial.

Place and duration of study: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Maternal and Child Health Centre (MCH), Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences, Islamabad, from May 2010 to January 2011.

Methodology: A total of 68 pregnant patients with diabetes were included in this study. Patients were randomly divided in to two groups of each 34 patients based on table of random numbers. One was labelled as group-A and other was labelled as group-B. Group-A received insulin and group-B received metformin for the management of diabetes.

Results: The mean age was 29.82 ± 4.58 and 29.35 ± 4.97 years in groups-A and B respectively. Fasting blood sugar level after 1 month was controlled in 22 (64.7%) patients in group-A and in 27 (79.4%) in group-B (p > 0.05). Fasting blood sugar level at term, remained controlled in 30 (88.2%) patients in group-A and 27 (79.4%) in group-B (p > 0.05). Comparison of random blood sugar levels within normal limits after 1 month in 25 (73.5%) in group-A and in 24 (70.6%) in group-B. At term, random blood sugar level was controlled in 28 (82.4%) and 27 (79.4%) patients in group-A and B, respectively. Comparison of post-treatment HBA1C level depicts that diabetes controlled in 27 (79.4%) patients in group-A while in 28 (82.3%) patients of group-B. The efficacy of metformin and insulin in controlling diabetes was equal in two groups.

Conclusion: There was no marked difference in efficacy of metformin and insulin in controlling diabetes in pregnant patients in two groups.