The threshold effect of fasting blood glucose levels on the risk of delivering macrosomia in gestational diabetes mellitus patients

BackgroundGestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is a prevalent condition during pregnancy, and macrosomia is a recognized risk associated with it. However, the specific relationship between fasting blood glucose (FBG) levels and the risk of macrosomia in GDM, particularly any potential thresholds for...

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Main Authors: Yuan Li, Yumin Zhu, Wenjun Zheng, Yumei Gao, Ruili Huang, Tingting Yang, Ying Chen
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-05-01
Series:Frontiers in Endocrinology
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fendo.2025.1587306/full
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author Yuan Li
Yumin Zhu
Wenjun Zheng
Yumei Gao
Ruili Huang
Tingting Yang
Ying Chen
author_facet Yuan Li
Yumin Zhu
Wenjun Zheng
Yumei Gao
Ruili Huang
Tingting Yang
Ying Chen
author_sort Yuan Li
collection DOAJ
description BackgroundGestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is a prevalent condition during pregnancy, and macrosomia is a recognized risk associated with it. However, the specific relationship between fasting blood glucose (FBG) levels and the risk of macrosomia in GDM, particularly any potential thresholds for this relationship, remains unclear.MethodsThis retrospective cohort study analyzed data from 7,957 pregnant women who underwent antenatal care and delivered at The First People’s Hospital of Shangqiu between February 1, 2018, and December 30, 2022. Participants were stratified into three groups based on FBG levels: <5.1 mmol/L, 5.1–7 mmol/L, and ≥7 mmol/L. Multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed to assess the association between FBG levels and the risk of macrosomia. Two-piecewise regression models were applied to identify a threshold for the FBG-macrosomia relationship.ResultsThe prevalence of macrosomia increased substantially with increasing FBG levels (P < 0.001). The adjusted multivariable logistic regression analyses revealed that compared to women with FBG levels <5.1 mmol/L, those with FBG levels of 5.1–7 mmol/L and ≥7 mmol/L had 4.69 (95% CI: 4.06-5.42) and 8.65 (95% CI: 7.31-10.23) times higher risk of macrosomia, respectively (both P < 0.001). Two-piecewise regression models identified a threshold of 8.037 mmol/L. Below this threshold, each unit increase in FBG was associated with a 1.93-fold increase in the odds of macrosomia (95% CI: 1.83-2.04, P < 0.001). Above this threshold, the association was no longer statistically significant (OR = 1.04, 95% CI: 0.90-1.21, P = 0.587). Furthermore, the stratified analysis also showed a positive association between FBG level and macrosomia.ConclusionThere is a nonlinear relationship between FBG levels during pregnancy and the risk of macrosomia in GDM women, with a potential threshold effect at 8.037 mmol/L. Below the threshold, macrosomia prevalence markedly rises with elevated FBG levels, whereas above it, the association loses significance, implying a potential saturation at very high glucose levels.
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spelling doaj-art-56ead3c8489649caa006bad32b2ad25e2025-08-20T02:38:19ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Endocrinology1664-23922025-05-011610.3389/fendo.2025.15873061587306The threshold effect of fasting blood glucose levels on the risk of delivering macrosomia in gestational diabetes mellitus patientsYuan LiYumin ZhuWenjun ZhengYumei GaoRuili HuangTingting YangYing ChenBackgroundGestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is a prevalent condition during pregnancy, and macrosomia is a recognized risk associated with it. However, the specific relationship between fasting blood glucose (FBG) levels and the risk of macrosomia in GDM, particularly any potential thresholds for this relationship, remains unclear.MethodsThis retrospective cohort study analyzed data from 7,957 pregnant women who underwent antenatal care and delivered at The First People’s Hospital of Shangqiu between February 1, 2018, and December 30, 2022. Participants were stratified into three groups based on FBG levels: <5.1 mmol/L, 5.1–7 mmol/L, and ≥7 mmol/L. Multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed to assess the association between FBG levels and the risk of macrosomia. Two-piecewise regression models were applied to identify a threshold for the FBG-macrosomia relationship.ResultsThe prevalence of macrosomia increased substantially with increasing FBG levels (P < 0.001). The adjusted multivariable logistic regression analyses revealed that compared to women with FBG levels <5.1 mmol/L, those with FBG levels of 5.1–7 mmol/L and ≥7 mmol/L had 4.69 (95% CI: 4.06-5.42) and 8.65 (95% CI: 7.31-10.23) times higher risk of macrosomia, respectively (both P < 0.001). Two-piecewise regression models identified a threshold of 8.037 mmol/L. Below this threshold, each unit increase in FBG was associated with a 1.93-fold increase in the odds of macrosomia (95% CI: 1.83-2.04, P < 0.001). Above this threshold, the association was no longer statistically significant (OR = 1.04, 95% CI: 0.90-1.21, P = 0.587). Furthermore, the stratified analysis also showed a positive association between FBG level and macrosomia.ConclusionThere is a nonlinear relationship between FBG levels during pregnancy and the risk of macrosomia in GDM women, with a potential threshold effect at 8.037 mmol/L. Below the threshold, macrosomia prevalence markedly rises with elevated FBG levels, whereas above it, the association loses significance, implying a potential saturation at very high glucose levels.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fendo.2025.1587306/fullgestational diabetes mellitusfasting blood glucosemacrosomiathreshold effectpregnancy
spellingShingle Yuan Li
Yumin Zhu
Wenjun Zheng
Yumei Gao
Ruili Huang
Tingting Yang
Ying Chen
The threshold effect of fasting blood glucose levels on the risk of delivering macrosomia in gestational diabetes mellitus patients
Frontiers in Endocrinology
gestational diabetes mellitus
fasting blood glucose
macrosomia
threshold effect
pregnancy
title The threshold effect of fasting blood glucose levels on the risk of delivering macrosomia in gestational diabetes mellitus patients
title_full The threshold effect of fasting blood glucose levels on the risk of delivering macrosomia in gestational diabetes mellitus patients
title_fullStr The threshold effect of fasting blood glucose levels on the risk of delivering macrosomia in gestational diabetes mellitus patients
title_full_unstemmed The threshold effect of fasting blood glucose levels on the risk of delivering macrosomia in gestational diabetes mellitus patients
title_short The threshold effect of fasting blood glucose levels on the risk of delivering macrosomia in gestational diabetes mellitus patients
title_sort threshold effect of fasting blood glucose levels on the risk of delivering macrosomia in gestational diabetes mellitus patients
topic gestational diabetes mellitus
fasting blood glucose
macrosomia
threshold effect
pregnancy
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fendo.2025.1587306/full
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