Researchers from University of North Carolina, Duke University and the University of Maryland conducted a study using a nationwide, employer-based insurance database. A total of 110,000 women with gestational diabetes were enrolled. Exclusion criteria included women with age under 15 or over 45 years, those with type 1 or type 2 diabetes, and those pregnant with multiples. The percentage of women using glyburide increased from 8.5% to 64% during the study period of 11 years. The study found that there was a higher risk of complications for babies born to mothers on glyburide compared to mothers on insulin. These complications included respiratory distress (1.1% difference) and high birth weight (1.4% difference). These differences may be due to the inadequate blood glucose control experienced in women with glyburide compared to insulin. Until additional safety data is available, it is important to consider alternative therapies to glyburide in gestational diabetes.
