Metformin compared with glyburide for the management of gestational diabetes

Abstract Objective To assess blood glucose control and neonatal outcomes when women with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) were treated with metformin or glyburide. Methods When an appropriate diet was insufficient to control their blood glucose levels, women with GDM were randomized to a glyburide or a metformin treatment group. If the maximum dose was reached, the assessed drug was replaced by insulin. The primary outcome measures analyzed were maternal glucose levels during pregnancy, birth weight, and neonatal glucose levels. Results The only significant difference in outcome between the 2 treatment drugs was that maternal weight gain during pregnancy was less in the metformin (n = 40) than in the glyburide group (n = 32) (10.3 kg vs 7.6 kg; P = 0.02). No differences were found in treatment failure, mean level of fasting or postprandial plasma glucose, rate of participants with glycated hemoglobin, birth weight, rate of large-for-gestational-age newborns, or newborns with hypoglycemia. Conclusion The treatment of GDM with metformin or glyburide was found to be equivalent for both women and newborns.