Effect of betamethasone therapy on maternal glycemic profile in preterm gestation

Background: Betamethasone (BM) administration in pregnancy has been established to reduce the incidence and severity of neonatal respiratory distress syndrome.Its diabetogenic potential combined with placental insulin resistance in pregnancy, leads to a transient increase in the blood glucose level.There is paucity of data on effects of steroids on glucose homeostasis in non-diabetic pregnant women.Objective: To assess the effects of betamethasone therapy administered in preterm gestation on the glycemic profile in normoglycemic pregnant women.Materials and methods: It was hospital based cross-sectional study on 140 non diabetic pregnant women in whom delivery is indicated before 34+6 weeks were administered single or two doses of betamethasone.We closely monitored and assessed the glycemic profile of pregnant women based on 5-6 capillary blood glucose measurements per day with point of care devices (POC).All pregnant women had balanced diet during the study.Results: Significant changes in the glycemic profile in 108 (77.14%) patients was noted, with mean pre-meal blood glucose 95.287.15mg/dLand mean postprandial blood glucose 144.567.93mg/dL.The glycemia was reciprocal to the doses of betamethasone but not with maternal age, parity, gestational weeks and other parameters.Conclusion: Our study confers the need for increased awareness, personalized monitoring and need of treating hyperglycemia in pregnant women, following betamethasone administration.