The glyburide was not given in the first three months of pregnancy for fear it might cause birth defects. Drugs for gestational diabetes are normally given in the last six months anyway. Glyburide works by prodding the pancreas to secrete insulin, a hormone that the body uses to turn sugar into energy. In diabetes, the body's ability to make or use insulin is impaired. Langer said the drug would be cheaper than insulin, given the cost of needles and syringes.
Doctors are free to treat pregnant mothers with glyburide now.
But the drug's manufacturers would need government approval to promote it for such use.