EVALUATION OF LEPTIN AS THE POTENTIAL EARLY BIOMARKER FOR GDM

Abstract

Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), a prevalent metabolic complication of
pregnancy, poses substantial risks to both maternal and foetal well-being and serves
as a harbinger for the later development of type 2 diabetes mellitus. Emerging
evidence suggests that adipokines—particularly leptin, a hormone intricately
involved in appetite regulation, energy balance, and insulin sensitivity—may play a
pivotal role in the pathophysiology of GDM. This prospective case-control study,
conducted at Janana Hospital, JLN Medical College, Ajmer, aimed to explore the
predictive value of serum leptin levels in GDM and assess their relationship with key
metabolic and biochemical parameters, including fasting glucose, HbA1c, HOMAIR. A total of 260 pregnant women were enrolled and stratified into GDM cases and
normoglycemic controls based on oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) results. Our
findings revealed significantly elevated leptin concentrations in the GDM group,
which positively correlated with markers of insulin resistance and hyperglycaemia.
These results underscore leptin’s potential as a promising early biomarker for GDM,
offering novel insights into risk stratification and opening avenues for timely
preventative interventions.