Pregnancy is Not a Risk Factor for a Deterioration of Autonomic Nervous Function in Diabetic Women

Pregnancy may have an untoward effect on diabetic retinopathy and nephropathy and symptoms of autonomic neuropathy may also be exacerbated during pregnancy. To test the hypothesis that previous pregnancies during the diabetic state are associated with increased risk of development of autonomic dysfunction, autonomic nervous function and pregnancy history were assessed in 117 women with long-standing Type 1 diabetes mellitus. Thirty-eight women (32%) had autonomic dysfunction, defined as at least one abnormal cardiovascular test. The presence of autonomic dysfunction was not related to the number of pregnancies during the disease state. Thus, this cross-sectional study suggests that pregnancies do not represent a risk factor for a deterioration of autonomic nervous function and development of autonomic neuropathy in diabetic women.