Pregnancy Outcomes in Young Women With Youth-Onset Type 2 Diabetes Followed in the TODAY Study

Abstract

OBJECTIVE To assess pregnancy outcomes in young women with youth-onset type 2 diabetes followed in the Treatment Options for Type 2 Diabetes in Adolescents and Youth (TODAY) study. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS Pregnancy information (outcome and any maternal or fetal complications) was obtained from the female participants by self-report. Additionally, medical records for the pregnancy and the child’s neonatal course were obtained with data abstracted into standardized forms. RESULTS Over a maximum of 15 years, 260 pregnancies were reported by 141 women (aged 21.5 ± 3.2 years, BMI 35.6 ± 7.2 kg/m2, and diabetes duration 8.1 ± 3.2 years). Contraception use prior to pregnancy was reported by 13.5% of the women. Complications were reported by 65% of the women during their pregnancy. Pregnancy loss was observed in 25.3% and preterm birth in 32.6% of pregnancies. HbA1c ≥8% was observed in 31.9% of the pregnancies, and 35% of the pregnancies were complicated by chronic hypertension. Nephropathy prior to pregnancy was observed in 25% of the women. In the offspring, 7.8% were classified as small for gestational age, 26.8% large for gestational age, and 17.9% in the macrosomic range. CONCLUSIONS Based on observations from the TODAY cohort, young women with pregestational, youth-onset type 2 diabetes had very high rates of maternal complications stemming from significant socioeconomic disadvantage. The substantial maternal and infant complications seen in these young moms could potentially be avoided with improved contraception rates and reproductive planning.