Association of adiponectin with insulin resistance in gestational diabetes mellitus

Background: Adiponectin is a major adipokine, with a leading role in insulin resistance and type 2 Diabetes Mellitus. Low levels of adiponectin during pregnancy are linked to gestational diabetes mellitus. The objective of our study was to determine the association of serum adiponectin with insulin resistance in gestational diabetes mellitus. Methods: This study was carried out at Department of Physiology and Centre for Research in Experimental and Applied Medicine of Army Medical College in alliance with Military Hospital, Rawalpindi, from July 2017 to February 2018. It was a descriptive study. A total of thirty age and BMI matched diagnosed cases of gestational diabetes mellitus were included in this study through non-probability purposive sampling. Females having history of recent miscarriage, pre-existing diabetes mellitus and females with gestational diabetes mellitus on insulin therapy were excluded. Data collection was done after taking informed written consent. Serum adiponectin and insulin levels were evaluated by ELISA. HOMA-IR was used to determine insulin resistance and value >1.5 was considered significant. Pearson correlation test was applied to assess the correlation between serum adiponectin and insulin resistance, p<0.05 was considered statistically significant. Result: There was a strong negative correlation between fasting insulin levels and HOMA-IR values with serum adiponectin levels, assessed by Pearson correlation test (p<0.001). Conclusion: There is a negative correlation between serum adiponectin levels and insulin resistance indicating that adiponectin plays a significant role in the development of insulin resistance in gestational diabetes mellitus. Pak J Physiol 2019;15(2):25–7