CORD PLASMA GLUCOSE AND INSULIN CONCENTRATIONS AND MATERNAL-FETAL RELATIONS

Summary

The concentration of glucose and insulin was estimated in 854 samples of umbilical cord blood plasma and 503 concurrently collected maternal blood samples. The mean cord insulin concentration, excluding all infants born to known diabetic mothers, was 7 μU./ml., but the distribution was skewed with 10 per cent of infants having a value of 12 μU./ml. or more. The giving of intravenous sugar-coating fluids to the mother during labour tended to exaggerate the skewness rather than move the whole distribution to the right. Babies born by the vaginal route, whatever the presentation or method of delivery, had slightly lower mean insulin values than those born by Caesarean section. It thus seems unlikely that “stress” is a factor causing high cord insulin values at birth. Other data concerning maternal-fetal glucose and insulin relations are discussed.