Long-term effects of pregnancy on diabetic complications

The aim of our study was to establish whether pregnancy affects long-term development and progression of retinopathy and nephropathy in diabetic women compared to nulliparous diabetic women. Twenty-eight diabetic women who had delivered in 1983-85 at Helsinki University Central Hospital and 17 nulliparous controls matched according in age, duration of diabetes, and degree of vascular complications were personally interviewed and the current retinal status and renal function were assessed 7 years later, in 1990-92. Serum creatinine, creatinine clearance, nocturnal albuminuria, and HbA1c were measured and colour fundus photography carried out. The results were compared to the status in 1983-85. Of those who had been pregnant, 5 of 26 (19.2%) had experienced worsening of retinopathy. In 3 of these, proliferative retinopathy had developed from only minimal background changes. In the control group, progression had occurred in 8 cases of 16 (50%, p < 0.05). The groups did not differ from each other regarding progression or development of nephropathy. This suggests that pregnancy does not seem to affect development or progression of diabetic nephropathy whereas progression of retinopathy seems to occur less often after pregnancy compared to nulliparous women.