Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 19, 2026

Improving IV Insulin Administration in a Community Hospital
Published on: June 11, 2012
Relationship between amniotic fluid insulin and maternal blood glucose concentrations in patients with carbohydrate
G Crombach1, C Hammerschmidt, B Schmitz-Röckerath
1Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Cologne, Fed. Rep. of Germany.
In contrast to maternal blood glucose, amniotic fluid insulin (AFI) directly reflects the functional state of the fetal pancreas. In a prospective study we evaluated the correlation of AFI with maternal metabolic control in 70 amniotic fluid specimens from 61 women having carbohydrate intolerance during pregnancy (White A n = 44, B0 n = 17). AFI was measured with the Insulin RIA 100 kit from Pharmacia (Freiburg). The normal range of AFI was established in 304 healthy pregnant women (16th-42nd gestational week). AFI concentrations increased by a factor of 1.5 to 2 during gestation reflecting the maturation of the fetal pancreas. Elevated AFI levels (> 97th centile) were found in 11% of normoglycemic diabetics and in 50% of women with insufficient metabolic control. Despite a high overall concordance (81%) no direct relationship could be found between fetal and maternal parameters. Patients with increased AFI values had a 5-fold higher rate of large-for-gestational age (LGA) infants than women with normal levels. This finding confirms the pathogenetic role of hyperinsulinism in the development of fetal macrosomia.
In contrast to maternal blood glucose, amniotic fluid insulin (AFI) directly reflects the functional state of the fetal pancreas. In a prospective study we evaluated the correlation of AFI with maternal metabolic control in 70 amniotic fluid specimens from 61 women having carbohydrate intolerance during pregnancy (White A n = 44, B0 n = 17). AFI was measured with the Insulin RIA 100 kit from Pharmacia (Freiburg). The normal range of AFI was established in 304 healthy pregnant women (16th-42nd gestational week). AFI concentrations increased by a factor of 1.5 to 2 during gestation reflecting the maturation of the fetal pancreas. Elevated AFI levels (> 97th centile) were found in 11% of normoglycemic diabetics and in 50% of women with insufficient metabolic control. Despite a high overall concordance (81%) no direct relationship could be found between fetal and maternal parameters. Patients with increased AFI values had a 5-fold higher rate of large-for-gestational age (LGA) infants than women with normal levels. This finding confirms the pathogenetic role of hyperinsulinism in the development of fetal macrosomia.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
Glucose Transporters
Facilitated diffusion-glucose transporters (GLUTs) are encoded by the solute-linked carrier (SLC) family 2, subfamily A gene family, or SLC2A. The 14 GLUT protein members are distributed into three classes:
Hormones Regulating Blood Glucose
In addition to accelerating glucose uptake and utilization, insulin has...
Diabetes Mellitus: Type 2 and Gestational
Pathophysiology of 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: Introduction
Hyperglycemia

