Summary:
In pregnant women receiving betamethasone between 24.0 and 36.5 weeks gestation, metformin therapy (425 mg three times daily before meals and 850–1700 mg at 10 pm for up to 48 hours) significantly reduced maternal glucose levels and the incidence of neonatal hypoglycemia compared to no treatment, though it was associated with mild gastrointestinal side effects in 14% of participants.
| PICO | Description |
|---|---|
| Population | Pregnant women (without diabetes) at 24.0–36.5 weeks of gestation who received betamethasone due to increased risk of preterm delivery. |
| Intervention | Metformin administered as 425 mg three times daily before meals and 850–1700 mg at 10 pm for 48 hours following betamethasone administration. |
| Comparison | No treatment post-betamethasone administration. |
| Outcome | Metformin significantly reduced maternal total mean glucose (121 vs 127 mg/dL; P = .01) and postprandial glucose levels (129 vs 138 mg/dL; P = .009). Neonatal hypoglycemia occurred less frequently in the metformin group (21%) than in controls (40%) (P = .04; RR 0.53; 95% CI, 0.28–0.99). Mild gastrointestinal adverse effects were reported by 14% of the metformin group. |
Source: Yefet, Enav, et al. “Metformin, Maternal Glycemic Control, and Neonatal Hypoglycemia After Antenatal Steroids: A Randomized Clinical Trial.” Read article here.
