[Fetal hyperinsulinism in early pregnancy--a cause of diabetic fetopathy?]

The influence of fetal hyperinsulinemia on the development of diabetic fetopathy was investigated. Human fetal pancreatic slices of fetus between the 12th and 26th weeks of pregnancy from non diabetic (n = 32) and diabetic (n = 18) women were incubated in vitro for one hour. The insulin secretion results clearly demonstrate an age dependent increase in both groups investigated, but the increase is much more pronounced in fetuses from diabetic women. The differences between the groups are present already during the 12th week of pregnancy. The results support the concept to normalize the metabolic control in pregnancy as early as possible in order to prevent the diabetic fetopathy.