Indicators of Obesity and Serum Levels of Triglycerides in the First Trimester of Pregnancy as the Predictors of Gestational Diabetes Mellitus among Urmia Women

Background: Obesity is a major risk factor of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), therefore, we aimed to determine which indicators of obesity can be used as predictors of GDM and also to study the association of maternal serum levels of triglycerides (TG) in early pregnancy to expression of GDM. Methods: A total of 436 primigravida women, who attended public health centers in 6 - 10 weeks of gestation, were prospectively followed until 24 - 28 weeks of gestation to control the expression of GDM. The indicators of abdominal obesity and the serum concentration of TG were measured at 6-10 weeks of gestation. All participants underwent a 75 g oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) as a routine test at 24 - 28 weeks. Results: The incidence of GDM among our participants was 9.6%. The serum concentration of TG in 16.5% of them was more than 199 mg\dL. The majority of participants (62.8%) had a body mass index (BMI) more than its normal range. Waist circumference (WC) in the majority (84.4%) was 80 - 95.9 cm. The mean (SD) waist to height ratio (WHtR) and waist to hip ratio (WHR) were 0.58 (0.05) and 0.84 (0.06), respectively. WC, WHtR, WHR, BMI, and the serum levels of TG in early pregnancy are associated with the expression of GDM. Conclusions: Abdominal obesity and serum levels of TG can be used as early predictors of GDM. Strategies consisted of monitoring of TG levels in women planning for pregnancy as well as training obese and overweight women to modify their lifestyle in the means of decreasing the body fat mass can help to partially prevent GDM.