Effect of Yam Gruel on Blood Glucose Control and Insulin Resistance in Patients with Gestational Diabetes Mellitus

Field: Medicine (Health Sciences)

Objective

To explore the effects of yam gruel on blood glucose and insulin resistance in patients with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM).

Methods

A total of 144 patients with GDM were recruited from the Obstetric Department of 900th Hospital of Joint Service Support Force of Chinese Peoples Liberation Army (Center Hospital Area and Cangshan Hospital Area) and Fujian Provincial Jinshan Hospital from July 2019 to December 2020, which were randomly divided into the control group and the observation group, with 72 cases in each group. The control group was given routine treatment and nursing care including regular outpatient examination, diet guidance, exercise guidance, blood glucose self-monitoring and health education. The observation group was given yam gruel on the basis of the routine treatment and care in the control group. Yam gruel was used to replace the carbohydrates in the breakfast [125 g peeled yam, 70 kcal (1 kcal=4.186 kJ)] under the condition of maintaining the total calories of breakfast. The yam gruel was taken every morning, five times a week, continous treatment for 10 weeks. The difference of blood glucose indicators [fasting blood glucose (FBG), two-hour postprandial blood glucose (2 h PBG), glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c)], insulin resistance indicators [fasting serum insulin (FINS), homeostasis model assessment insulin resistance index (HOMA-IR)], and pregnancy outcome indicators (delivery method, adverse pregnancy outcome) between two groups.

Results

① Blood glucose indicators: compared with before intervention, 2 h PBG in the two groups after intervention for four,eight and ten weeks were significantly decreased, and HbA1c in the two groups after intervention for ten weeks was significantly increased, the differences were statistically significant (P<0.05). Compared with the control group at the same time, the FBG of the observation group after intervention for eight and ten weeks was significantly decreased, the 2 h PBG of the observation group after intervention for four weeks, eight weeks and ten weeks was significantly decreased, and the HbA1c of the observation group after intervention for ten weeks was significantly decreased, the differences were statistically significant (P<0.05).② Insulin resistance indicators: compared with before intervention, FINS and HOMA-IR in the control group after intervention for ten weeks were significantly increased, the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05), but the differences of FINS and HOMA-IR in the observation group after intervention for 10 weeks were not statistically significant (P>0.05). Compared with the control group, FINS and HOMA-IR in the observation group after intervention for ten weeks were significantly decreased, the differences were statistically significant (P<0.05). ③ Pregnancy outcomes: the difference of adverse pregnancy outcomes between two groups was not statistically significant (P>0.05).

Conclusion

Yam gruel can effectively improve blood glucose and IR in patients with GDM, but the effect of improving pregnancy outcomes is not obvious, which is worthy of clinical application.