Joslin: Discovery in Diabetic Birth Defects

http://joslin.org/NewsMenu_3926.asp


Joslin Researchers Discover a Surprising Culprit in the Search for
Causes of Diabetic Birth Defects
Protein Makes It Possible for High Blood Glucose to Enter Embryonic
Cells

(escerpt)

BOSTON - March 5, 2007 - Over the past several years, Joslin
Investigator Mary R. Loeken, Ph.D., and her colleagues at Joslin
Diabetes Center have unlocked several mysteries behind what puts women
with diabetes more at risk of having a child with birth defects. Even
though those risks have decreased significantly over the years, thanks
in part to advancements at Joslin, women with diabetes still are two
to five times more likely than the general population to have a baby
with birth defects, especially of the heart and spinal cord, organs
that form within the first few weeks of pregnancy.


Now, in this latest study done in mice, Dr. Loeken and her colleagues
have discovered that the protein called glucose transporter 2 (Glut2)
makes it possible for the high concentrations of glucose to get into
the embryonic cells efficiently when the mother's blood glucose
concentrations are high. Also involved in the study was Rulin Li,
Ph.D., a former postdoctoral fellow at Joslin. The study, supported by
the National Institutes of Health, will appear in the March print
edition of Diabetologia and was published online by the journal on
Jan. 18.

Kurt wrote:
> http://joslin.org/NewsMenu_3926.asp
>
>
> Joslin Researchers Discover a Surprising Culprit in the
Search for
> Causes of Diabetic Birth Defects
> Protein Makes It Possible for High Blood Glucose to Enter
Embryonic
> Cells
>
> (excerpt)
>
> BOSTON - March 5, 2007 - Over the past several years,
Joslin
> Investigator Mary R. Loeken, Ph.D., and her colleagues at
Joslin
> Diabetes Center have unlocked several mysteries behind
what puts women
> with diabetes more at risk of having a child with birth
defects. Even
> though those risks have decreased significantly over the
years, thanks
> in part to advancements at Joslin, women with diabetes
still are two
> to five times more likely than the general population to
have a baby
> with birth defects, especially of the heart and spinal
cord, organs
> that form within the first few weeks of pregnancy.
>
>
> Now, in this latest study done in mice, Dr. Loeken and her
colleagues
> have discovered that the protein called glucose
transporter 2 (Glut2)
> makes it possible for the high concentrations of glucose
to get into
> the embryonic cells efficiently when the mother's blood
glucose
> concentrations are high. Also involved in the study was
Rulin Li,
> Ph.D., a former postdoctoral fellow at Joslin. The study,
supported by
> the National Institutes of Health, will appear in the
March print
> edition of Diabetologia and was published online by the
journal on
> Jan. 18.

Sadly most people who have diabetes during pregnancy get
told that there is a risk of having a "big" baby and nothing
else. I am really glad my endo insisted on very tight
control during my GD pregnancies - which were diagnosed
earlier than the silly 28 week GTT. I do know he encourages
his women patients who are already diabetics to gain good
control before conception.

It's those vital first 12 weeks when most of the problems
caused from high bg's occur. Having had excellent endo care
during my pregnancies I get upset when I see the advice some
pregnant women get from their endos. Even though most GD
(and type 1 & 2) pregnancies have a good outcome, the risks
are high and shouldn't be ignored and passed off as
inconsequential. A lot of doctors are still using outdated
bg limits as well. I cringe every time I see a pregnant
diabetic say "this is where my doctor would like to see my
bg's...". IMO every effort should be used to gain tight
control, with insulin if necessary.