Inflammation profiles worse among women with diagnosed diabetes
Women with diagnosed diabetes may have higher levels of ferritin, compared with those with a history of gestational diabetes.
In a cross-sectional study, researchers from the University of Michigan and the CDC compared inflammatory markers of women with a history of gestational diabetes, diagnosed diabetes and those unaffected.
The researchers used the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, which included data on 6,346 women with a history of gestational diabetes (n=87), diagnosed diabetes (n=244) or neither (n=6,015).
Women with diagnosed diabetes had the highest levels of ferritin (135.1 ng/mL) compared to those with gestational diabetes (59.4 ng/mL) and those without diabetes (62.7 ng/mL), according to the study (P<.0001). Women with diabetes also had the highest leukocyte counts (8.4 cells/mL vs. 8.0 cells/mL and 7.2 cells/mL) and the highest CRP levels (0.88 mg/L vs. 0.51 mg/L and 0.40 mg/L; P=.0012).
After adjusting for patient variables, differences in inflammatory markers were most striking between those with a history of gestational diabetes and those who were unaffected. by Stacey L. Adams
Diabetes Care. 2008; 31:1386-1388.