Glyburide as effective as insulin for gestational diabetes

Glyburide is as effective as insulin for women with gestational diabetes mellitus and a fasting plasma glucose of 140 mg/dL or less on a 3-hour glucose tolerance test, according to a 4-year retrospective study of a large and diverse managed-care population.

Researchers found certain differences though. Women treated with insulin tended to have a higher mean body mass index, more of them were white and fewer were Asian, and they had a significantly higher mean fasting level on a glucose tolerance test, compared with the women in the glyburide group. While there were no significant differences in birthweight, macrosomia, or cesarean delivery, neonates of women receiving glyburide were more likely to receive phototherapy and less likely to be admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit, but had a longer stay in the NICU if they were admitted.

More women in the glyburide group achieved mean fasting and postprandial goals than did women in the insulin group.