Hemoglobin A1c in diabetes related to pregnancy induced hypertension

OBJECTIVE: To test the hypothesis that the poor control of diabetes during pregnancy is correlated with a high rate of pregnancy induced hypertension (PIH). METHODS: A retrospective analysis on 146 pregnant women with diabetes mellitus of White's class B to RF (gestational diabetes was excluded) diagnosed before pregnancy was carried out in Yale-New Haven hospital, U.S.A. RESULTS: 36.3% of the diabetic women developed PIH. Hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) levels were higher than normal in 63.7% (93 cases) of the patients during their initial prenatal visits. In the group with HbA1c score > or = 6 and White's Class D-RF, more cases developed PIH than that in groups with HbA1c score < 6 and White's Class B and C (P < 0.01, P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Diabetic women with high HbA1c score or advanced White's Class during pregnancy were at increased risk for PIH. Good control of blood glucose level throughout pregnancy may reduce the risk of PIH in diabetic women.