Impact of Metabolic Control of Diabetes During Pregnancy on Neonatal Hypocalcemia: A Randomized Study

OBJECTIVE: METHODS: RESULTS:Infants in the strict control group had a significantly lower rate of hypocalcemia (mean calcium less than 8.0 mg/dL in term infants and less than 7.0 mg/dL in preterm infants) than infants in the customary control group (17.6 versus 31.9%; P < .05). Using logistic regression analysis and after adjusting for the effects of gestational age, asphyxia, and White class on hypocalcemia, the difference between groups remained significant. The lowest infant serum calcium concentration correlated significantly with maternal glycohemoglobin A1 concentration at delivery (P = .03), gestational age (P = .0001), and the lowest serum magnesium concentration (P = .0001). CONCLUSION:Strict management of diabetes in pregnancy is associated with a reduction in the rate of neonatal hypocalcemia. (Obstet Gynecol 1994;83:918-22)