Evidence mapPaperPMID 41580696Full record

SynthesisBMC pregnancy and childbirth2026

Comparison of pregnancy outcomes and physical conditions of infants in patients with gestational diabetes mellitus treated with metformin and insulin: a meta-analysis study.

Linlin Sun, Peng Du, Zhiyu Xi

Abstract readMeta-AnalysisComparative Study
In one paragraph

Synthesis in BMC pregnancy and childbirth, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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1 · What the graph read from it

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4 · The record

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

3 authors.

Linlin SunDepartment of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, Lequn Branch, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun , 130021, China.
Peng DuDepartment of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, Lequn Branch, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun , 130021, China. 15304408180@163.com.
Zhiyu XiDepartment of Vascular Surgery, Lequn Branch, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, 130021, China. m15804302122_1@163.com.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundGestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is a common complication during pregnancy, which seriously affects the health of mothers and infants. Metformin and insulin are both commonly used therapeutic drugs, but the effects of the two on pregnancy outcomes and the physical condition of the infants remain undetermined. This study conducted a meta-analysis to compare the effects of two drugs in the treatment of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), providing a basis for clinical medication.

methodsOur research systematically searched the PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library databases to include randomized controlled trials (RCTS) of metformin and insulin in the treatment of GDM. The search period was up to March 2025. Literature screening, data extraction and quality evaluation were independently completed by two researchers, and statistical analysis was performed using RevMan 5.4 software.

resultsEventually, 8 RCTS were included, involving a total of 2,350 patients with GDM. Meta-analysis showed that the cesarean section rate in the metformin group was 26.3%, which was lower than 33.7% in the insulin group (RR = 0.78, 95%CI:0.75–0.81, P < 0.05). The incidence of gestational hypertension in the metformin group was 13.8% (26 out of 188 patients), which was lower than 18.6% (34 out of 183 patients) in the insulin group (RR = 0.74, 95% CI: 0.69–0.79, P < 0.05). The cesarean section rate was 30.9% (58/188) in the metformin group vs. 38.8% (71/183) in the insulin group (RR = 0.78, 95% CI:0.75–0.81, P < 0.05). Neonatal hypoglycemia occurred in 5.9% (11/188) of the metformin group vs. 9.8% (18/183) of the insulin group (RR = 0.60, 95% CI:0.57–0.63, P < 0.05). Macrosomia rates were 14.9% (28/188) vs. 19.7% (36/183) in the two groups, respectively (RR = 0.78, 95% CI:0.73–0.83, P < 0.05).

conclusionCompared with insulin, metformin in the treatment of gestational diabetes mellitus can reduce the rate of cesarean section, the incidence of gestational hypertension, the incidence of neonatal hypoglycemia and the incidence of macrosomia, and can be an effective treatment option for patients with GDM.

Indexed as

Diabetes, GestationalHypoglycemic AgentsInsulinMetforminPregnancy OutcomeCesarean SectionFemaleFetal MacrosomiaHumansHypoglycemiaInfant, NewbornPregnancyRandomized Controlled Trials as TopicHypoglycemic AgentsInsulinMetforminComparison of pregnancy outcomesGestational diabetes mellitusInsulinMeta-analysisMetforminPhysical conditions of infants

Identifiers

PMID41580696
PMCPMC12911022

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.