We reviewed the records of pregnant diabetic women attended at Mayo Clinic during the years 1950–79 and matched each nonaborted diabetic pregnancy with two control pregnancies. Abortions occurred in 49 of 277 diabetic pregnancies (17.7%). The relative risk of other adverse outcomes of pregnancy (± 95% confidence interval) in comparison with controls was as follows: perinatal mortality, 7.0 (3.6–13.8); major congenital birth defects, 6.3 (2.8–14.2); and respiratory distress, 9.0 (4.5–17.9). Diabetic ketoacidosis resulted in fetal death in 5 of 18 cases. Patients with mean fasting blood glucose levels of ≤ 140 mg/dl had a perinatal mortality of 81 per 1000 births and an incidence of respiratory distress and congenital birth defects of 18.9% and 9.9%, respectively. Patients with mean blood glucose levels > 140 mg/dl had corresponding rates of 306 per 1000, 20.4%, and 11.2%, respectively. Hydramnios occurred almost exclusively in diabetic women, and its presence was associated with a twofold increase in the frequency of perinatal death. Analysis of diabetic pregnancy outcome by decade showed no appreciable decrease in the occurrence of perinatal mortality, congenital birth defects, or respiratory distress over the 30-yr period.
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November 01 1984
An Analysis of Diabetic Pregnancies at Mayo Clinic, 1950–79
Edward G Lufkin, M.D.;
Edward G Lufkin, M.D.
Departments of Internal Medicine, Mayo Clinic and Mayo Foundation
Rochester, Minnesota 55905
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Roger L Nelson, M.D.;
Roger L Nelson, M.D.
Departments of Internal Medicine, Mayo Clinic and Mayo Foundation
Rochester, Minnesota 55905
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Lyndon M Hill, M.D.;
Lyndon M Hill, M.D.
Departments of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Mayo Clinic and Mayo Foundation
Rochester, Minnesota 55905
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L Joseph Melton, III, M.D.;
L Joseph Melton, III, M.D.
Medical Statistics and Epidemiology, Mayo Clinic and Mayo Foundation
Rochester, Minnesota 55905
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W Michael O'Fallon, Ph.D.;
W Michael O'Fallon, Ph.D.
Medical Statistics and Epidemiology, Mayo Clinic and Mayo Foundation
Rochester, Minnesota 55905
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Arthur T Evans, III, M.D.
Arthur T Evans, III, M.D.
Departments of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Mayo Clinic and Mayo Foundation
Rochester, Minnesota 55905
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Address reprint requests to Dr. E. G. Lufkin at the above address.
Citation
Edward G Lufkin, Roger L Nelson, Lyndon M Hill, L Joseph Melton, W Michael O'Fallon, Arthur T Evans; An Analysis of Diabetic Pregnancies at Mayo Clinic, 1950–79. Diabetes Care 1 November 1984; 7 (6): 539–547. https://doi.org/10.2337/diacare.7.6.539
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