Affiliations 

  • 1 Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Lembah Pantai, 50603, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
  • 2 Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Lembah Pantai, 50603, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. jesrine@um.edu.my
Arch Gynecol Obstet, 2021 08;304(2):345-353.
PMID: 33452923 DOI: 10.1007/s00404-020-05950-3

Abstract

PURPOSE: To compare 3 consecutive days of hyperglycemic response following antenatal dexamethasone regimens of 12-mg or 6-mg doses 12 hourly in diet-controlled gestational diabetes.

METHODS: A randomized controlled trial was carried out in a university hospital in Malaysia. Women with lifestyle-controlled gestational diabetes scheduled to receive clinically indicated antenatal corticosteroids (dexamethasone) were randomized to 12-mg 12 hourly for one day (2 × 12-mg) or 6-mg 12-hourly for two days (4 × 6-mg). 6-point (pre and 2-h postprandial) daily self-monitoring of capillary blood sugar profile for up to 3 consecutive days was started after the first dexamethasone injection. Hyperglycemia is defined as blood glucose pre-meal ≥ 5.3 or 2 h postprandial ≥ 6.7 mmol/L. The primary outcome was a number of hyperglycemic episodes in Day-1 (first 6 BSP points). A sample size of 30 per group (N = 60) was planned.

RESULTS: Median [interquartile range] hyperglycemic episodes 4 [2.5-5] vs. 4 [3-5] p = 0.3 in the first day, 3 [2-4] vs. 1 [0-3] p = 0.01 on the second day, 0 [0-1] vs. 0 [0-1] p = 0.6 on the third day and over the entire 3 trial days 7 [6-9] vs. 6 [4-8] p = 0.17 for 6-mg vs. 12-mg arms, respectively. 2/30 (7%) in each arm received an anti-glycemic agent during the 3-day trial period (capillary glucose exceeded 11 mmol/L). Mean birth weight (2.89 vs. 2.49 kg p 

* Title and MeSH Headings from MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.