Influence of maternal levels of blood glucose on fetal outcome.

The effect of maternal levels of fasting blood glucose on fetal outcome was studied in 500 women with normal and toxemic pregnancies. Forty percent of the mothers with low glucose levels gave birth to low birth weight infants. In cases of severe preeclamptic toxemia, low fasting glucose levels were associated with a higher incidence of low birth weight, prematurity and stillbirths. Thus, in a population subsisting on poor caloric and protein intake, maternal levels of fasting blood glucose may be an important index in predicting high-risk pregnancy.