| Autor: |
Tocci V; Department of Health Sciences, University 'Magna Græcia' of Catanzaro, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy.; Operative Unit of Endocrinology, Diabetes in Pregnancy Ambulatory Care Center, Renato Dulbecco University Hospital, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy., Mirabelli M; Department of Health Sciences, University 'Magna Græcia' of Catanzaro, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy.; Operative Unit of Endocrinology, Diabetes in Pregnancy Ambulatory Care Center, Renato Dulbecco University Hospital, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy., Salatino A; Department of Health Sciences, University 'Magna Græcia' of Catanzaro, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy., Sicilia L; Operative Unit of Endocrinology, Diabetes in Pregnancy Ambulatory Care Center, Renato Dulbecco University Hospital, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy., Giuliano S; Operative Unit of Endocrinology, Diabetes in Pregnancy Ambulatory Care Center, Renato Dulbecco University Hospital, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy., Brunetti FS; Department of Health Sciences, University 'Magna Græcia' of Catanzaro, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy., Chiefari E; Department of Health Sciences, University 'Magna Græcia' of Catanzaro, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy., De Sarro G; Department of Health Sciences, University 'Magna Græcia' of Catanzaro, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy., Foti DP; Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University 'Magna Græcia' of Catanzaro, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy., Brunetti A; Department of Health Sciences, University 'Magna Græcia' of Catanzaro, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy.; Operative Unit of Endocrinology, Diabetes in Pregnancy Ambulatory Care Center, Renato Dulbecco University Hospital, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy. |
| Abstrakt: |
In recent years, there has been a dramatic increase in the number of pregnancies complicated by gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). GDM occurs when maternal insulin resistance develops and/or progresses during gestation, and it is not compensated by a rise in maternal insulin secretion. If not properly managed, this condition can cause serious short-term and long-term problems for both mother and child. Lifestyle changes are the first line of treatment for GDM, but if ineffective, insulin injections are the recommended pharmacological treatment choice. Some guidance authorities and scientific societies have proposed the use of metformin as an alternative pharmacological option for treating GDM, but there is not yet a unanimous consensus on this. Although the use of metformin appears to be safe for the mother, concerns remain about its long-term metabolic effects on the child that is exposed in utero to the drug, given that metformin, contrary to insulin, crosses the placenta. This review article describes the existing lines of evidence about the use of metformin in pregnancies complicated by GDM, in order to clarify its potential benefits and limits, and to help clinicians make decisions about who could benefit most from this drug treatment. |
