Obstetrics and Gynecology/Diabetes in the Pregnant Female

Pathophysiology

 * Factors released from the placenta (i.e. human placental lactogen, growth hormone, progesterone, and glucocorticoids) may aggravate maternal insulin resistance.
 * Increased insulin requirements during pregnancy may reveal a maternal incapacity to produce insulin from her pancreatic beta-cells.


 * Preexisting diabetes in the mother may worsen any already-present complications of diabetes.