Effects of Stress on Glucose Tolerance During Pregnancy

Effects of Stress on Glucose Tolerance During Pregnancy

The objective of the study is to investigate the effect of stress on glucose tolerance during pregnancy.

The main objectives of the study are to investigate if various measures of stress (stressful life events, the perceived level of stress and the cortisol or copeptin concentrations) differ between pregnant women with and without gestational diabetes during the end of the second/beginning of the third trimester when presenting for their routine glucose tolerance testing.

Secondary objectives are the link between these different stress measures and the routinely measured fasting and stimulated glucose levels during the oral glucose tolerance test.

Hypotheses in this study, 3 primary hypotheses will be tested.

1. Women with gestational diabetes have more life events compared to pregnant women without gestational diabetes.
2. Women with gestational diabetes have higher perceived level of stress and anxiety compared to pregnant women without gestational diabetes.
3. Women with gestational diabetes have higher measures of cortisol levels in the saliva and in the nailfolds and higher plasma copeptin levels compared to pregnant women without gestational diabetes.

Secondary objectives:

1. To test the link between these stress measures and the fasting and stimulated glucose levels during the oral glucose tolerance test.

Inclusion Criteria:

• All pregnant women who are undergoing a 75 g oral glucose tolerance test at the "Maternité" of CHUV at 24-30 weeks of gestation between October 2012 and April 2013

Exclusion Criteria:

• Pregnant woman who has the use if medications that influence either the cortisol and /or the glucose levels
• Pregnant woman who has the inability to fill out the questionnaires with assistance