Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 18, 2026

Differentiated Mouse Adipocytes in Primary Culture: A Model of Insulin Resistance
09:48

Differentiated Mouse Adipocytes in Primary Culture: A Model of Insulin Resistance

Published on: February 17, 2023

Low adiponectin concentration during pregnancy predicts postpartum insulin resistance, beta cell dysfunction and

R Retnakaran1, Y Qi, P W Connelly

  • 1Leadership Sinai Centre for Diabetes, Mount Sinai Hospital, 60 Murray Street, Suite-L5-039, Mailbox-21, Toronto, ON, Canada. rretnakaran@mtsinai.on.ca

Diabetologia
|November 26, 2009
PubMed

Insights

Low adiponectin during pregnancy predicts postpartum insulin resistance and beta cell dysfunction, highlighting its role in the link between gestational diabetes (GDM) and type 2 diabetes risk.

Area of Science:

  • Endocrinology
  • Metabolic Health
  • Reproductive Health

Background:

  • Gestational diabetes (GDM) is linked to future type 2 diabetes risk due to postpartum metabolic defects, particularly beta-cell dysfunction.
  • Adiponectin, leptin, and C-reactive protein (CRP) are emerging diabetic risk factors, but their role in GDM's long-term metabolic consequences is unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the relationship between pregnancy levels of adiponectin, leptin, and CRP and postpartum metabolic defects in women with a history of GDM.
  • To determine if these markers predict future insulin resistance and beta-cell dysfunction.

Main Methods:

  • A cohort of 487 women underwent metabolic testing during pregnancy and at 3 months postpartum, including oral glucose tolerance tests (OGTT).
  • Participants were categorized into GDM, impaired glucose tolerance, and normal glucose tolerance groups based on antepartum OGTT results.
  • Circulating levels of adiponectin, leptin, and CRP were measured and correlated with postpartum insulin sensitivity and beta-cell function.

Main Results:

  • Women with GDM had significantly lower adiponectin and higher CRP levels during pregnancy compared to other groups.
  • Pregnancy adiponectin, leptin, and CRP levels were all associated with postpartum insulin sensitivity.
  • Adiponectin levels during pregnancy independently predicted postpartum insulin sensitivity, beta-cell function, and fasting glucose, even after adjusting for GDM status.

Conclusions:

  • Low adiponectin levels during pregnancy are a significant predictor of postpartum insulin resistance, beta-cell dysfunction, and elevated fasting glucose.
  • Hypoadiponectinemia may play a crucial role in the pathophysiology linking GDM to an increased risk of type 2 diabetes.
  • Adiponectin serves as a potential biomarker for identifying women at higher risk for developing type 2 diabetes after GDM.
Abstract

More Related Videos

Study of In Vivo Glucose Metabolism in High-fat Diet-fed Mice Using Oral Glucose Tolerance Test (OGTT) and Insulin Tolerance Test (ITT)08:13

Study of In Vivo Glucose Metabolism in High-fat Diet-fed Mice Using Oral Glucose Tolerance Test (OGTT) and Insulin Tolerance Test (ITT)

Published on: January 7, 2018

Related Concept Videos

Pathophysiology of Diabetes01:20

Pathophysiology of Diabetes

Diabetes mellitus is a chronic metabolic disorder characterized by hyperglycemia. The four categories of diabetes are type 1 diabetes, type 2 diabetes, other specific types of diabetes, and gestational diabetes.
Type 1 diabetes is characterized by autoimmune-mediated destruction of pancreatic β cells, with environmental factors potentially triggering this process in genetically susceptible individuals. Despite many not having a family history, certain genes increase susceptibility, suggesting a...
Diabetes Mellitus: Type 2 and Gestational01:22

Diabetes Mellitus: Type 2 and Gestational

Type 2 diabetes, characterized by insulin resistance, arises when the insulin receptors on cells lose responsiveness to insulin, diminishing the cell's capacity to take up glucose, resulting in elevated blood glucose levels. To receive a diagnosis of Type 2 diabetes, a series of blood glucose tests are necessary to assess whether the blood glucose falls within normal parameters. If the result is out of the normal range, a patient may be diagnosed as prediabetic or diabetic, depending on the...
Type II Diabetes II: Pathophysiology01:24

Type II Diabetes II: Pathophysiology

PathophysiologyType 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM ) is a chronic metabolic disorder characterized by insulin resistance and progressive pancreatic β-cell dysfunction, leading to impaired glucose homeostasis. It results from interactions among genetic predisposition, environmental factors, and metabolic stressors, such as overnutrition and a sedentary lifestyle.Insulin Resistance and Glucose DysregulationEarly T2DM involves insulin resistance in skeletal muscle, adipose tissue, and the liver.
Hyperglycemia01:29

Hyperglycemia

Hyperglycemia is an abnormally high blood glucose level. It is diagnosed by fasting glucose ≥126 mg/dL, 2-hour oral glucose tolerance test (or OGTT) ≥200 mg/dL, random glucose ≥200 mg/dL with symptoms, or HbA1c ≥6.5%. However, HbA1c results may be unreliable in certain conditions, such as anemia or hemoglobinopathies, and the diagnosis should be confirmed unless classic symptoms are present. Postprandial hyperglycemia is typically considered significant when glucose levels exceed 180 mg/dL two...
Hormones Regulating Blood Glucose01:16

Hormones Regulating Blood Glucose

Insulin is released by beta cells of the pancreas when blood glucose levels are high. It facilitates glucose absorption and utilization in insulin-dependent cells with insulin receptors on their plasma membranes. Insulin promotes glucose uptake by increasing the number of glucose transport proteins in the cell membrane, allowing glucose to enter the cell. As a result, glucose utilization and ATP production are enhanced.
In addition to accelerating glucose uptake and utilization, insulin has...
Hypoglycemia and Glucagon01:15

Hypoglycemia and Glucagon

Without prolonged fasting, healthy individuals maintain blood glucose levels above 3.5 mM due to a well-adapted neuroendocrine counterregulatory system that effectively prevents acute hypoglycemia, a potentially life-threatening condition. The primary clinical scenarios for hypoglycemia encompass diabetes treatment, inappropriate production of endogenous insulin or insulin-like substances by tumors, and the use of glucose-lowering agents in non-diabetic individuals. Notably, hypoglycemia in the...