Growth hormone, insulin and placental lactogen in the sera of mothers and fetal blood of infants from physiological pregnancy and pregnancy complicated by diabetes mellitus

The study was aimed at investigating the changes in the blood serum concentrations of growth hormone (HGH), insulin and placental lactogen (HPL) in the newborns of diabetic mothers as compared to those born from physiological pregnancies. The concentration of hormones was determined by RIA both in the newborns and in mothers of the two groups. The mean insulin concentration was significantly higher, and that of HGH significantly lower in the newborns of diabetic mothers, as compared to those of healthy mothers. It seems that the occurrence of fetal macrosomy in diabetic pregnancies is associated with high insulin levels.