Vol. 6, Issue 1, Part A (2024)

Background: Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and thyroid dysfunction during gestation (GTD) are the two most prevalent endocrinopathies during pregnancy. 
Aims of the study: Provide an overview of the peculiar aspects of GDM and thyroid disorder and highlight the potential interactions and clinical consequences of these two frequent clinical conditions. 
Methodology: This case-control study included 50 pregnant women suffering from gestational diabetes who were diagnosed by doctors at Maysan Children’s and Maternity Hospital for the period from 5/11/2023 to 5/20/2024, along with 50 pregnant women who did not have gestational diabetes and 50 non-pregnant women who did not have gestational diabetes as a healthy control group. Ethical approval was obtained from all research participants; 5 ml was withdrawn from all participants, placed in a gel tube, and left at room temperature for 15 minutes until coagulation, after which it was separated using a centrifuge for 15 minutes, and the serum was stored at a temperature of -20 Celsius until use. Fasting glucose levels were measured using a spectrophotometer, and HBA1c and insulin levels were measured using Cobas e411. As for thyroid hormones, their levels were measured using Avias-6 device. 
Result: The results showed higher levels of fasting and cumulative blood sugar and insulin levels in pregnant women compared to the control group in the first and second age groups. The results also showed that there was no statistical significance in T3 levels, while thyroxine showed a decrease in the gestational diabetes group, and thyroid-stimulating hormone showed a significant increase in the same group in the first and second age groups. 
Conclusions: Low levels of thyroxine and high levels of thyroid-stimulating hormone indicate an imbalance in thyroid secretions. High levels of sugar and insulin may also be related to thyroid disorders, as thyroid hormones can affect the metabolism of sugar and its levels in the blood.