Insulin‐Induced Hypoglycemia in Pregnant Diabetics

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Abstract
Insulin (0.1 IU/kg bw) was injected intravenously in 9 pregnant diabetics in the last trimester of pregnancy. Maternal levels of blood glucose, estriol, human placental lactogen, blood pressure and pulse rate were measured and fetal heart rate (FHR) recorded. During hypoglycemia maternal blood pressure remained unchanged but maternal pulse rate tended to increase. Plasma levels of estriol and HPL remained unchanged. In 6 of the 9 patients there was a decrease in FHR variability during the hypoglycemic period. FHR variability increased after normalization of maternal blood glucose levels. The decrease in FHR variability could be a direct effect of glucopenia on the fetal heart.