Author(s)

Vitor Fernando Bordin Miola¹, Ana Rita de Oliveira dos Santos¹, Bárbara de Oliveira Zanuso¹, Maria Eduarda Guelfi Pinto¹, João Paulo Galleti Pillon¹, Jesselina Francisco dos Santos Haber¹, Ricardo de Alvares Goulart², Sandra Maria Barbalho^1，2，3*

¹Department of Biochemistry and Pharmacology, School of Medicine, University of Marília (UNIMAR), São Paulo, Brazil.
²Postgraduate Program in Structural and Functional Interactions in Rehabilitation, University of Marilia (UNIMAR), São Paulo, Brazil.
³Department of Biochemistry and Nutrition, Faculty of Food Technology of Marília, São Paulo, Brazil.

In March 2020, the World Health Organization declared a pandemic state in response to the number of infected and killed by COVID-19. Gestational diabetes (GD) is characterized by physiological changes making pregnant women even more vulnerable to viral respiratory infections, such as SARS-CoV-2. For these reasons and due to the restriction of data related to DMG and the involvement by COVID-19, the importance of raising information about these two conditions is evident. Therefore, this study aimed to perform a literature review about the complications of COVID-19 in patients with GD. MEDLINE-PubMed, EMBASE, and Scielo databases were searched and followed the PRISMA guidelines. Only four studies were included in the systematic review. The complications and mortality are more significant in pregnant women with diabetes since hyperglycemia promotes immune changes in the inflammatory state and worsens insulin resistance. The imbalance in the immune response favors the development of infections, the most likely being viral respiratory infections. On the other hand, other studies show insufficient recent evidence to indicate that pregnant women are more susceptible to infection with severe acute coronavirus respiratory syndrome. There are divergences between studies concerning complications related to COVID-19 in patients with GD. In view of this scenario and from the information obtained, it is noted that the literature is scarce regarding the worsening of COVID-19 in patients with GD. Therefore, it is necessary to continue research on these mechanisms that may justify their correlation.

COVID-19, Diabetes Mellitus, Gestational Diabetes, Hyperglycemia

Miola, V. , de Oliveira dos Santos, A. , de Oliveira Zanuso, B. , Pinto, M. , Pillon, J. , dos Santos Haber, J. , de Alvares Goulart, R. and Barbalho, S. (2020) COVID-19 and Gestational Diabetes: A Systematic Review. Journal of Diabetes Mellitus, 10, 236-244. doi: 10.4236/jdm.2020.104019.