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Background: The thyroid function test (free triiodothyronine [FT3], free thyroxine [FT4], and thyroid-stimulating hormone [TSH]) is one of the key determinant of glucose homeostasis by regulating the balance of insulin. Thyroid dysfunction alters glucose metabolism, leading to insulin resistance (IR). This study aimed to assess the association between thyroid function and IR in pregnant Sudanese women., Method: A cross-sectional study was conducted in Saad Abuelela Hospital, Khartoum-Sudan, from January to April 2021. Obstetric/sociodemographic characteristics were gathered through questionnaires. Serum TSH, FT3, FT4, fasting plasma glucose (FPG), and fasting insulin levels were measured and evaluated, and IR was estimated using the homeostatic model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) equation., Results: In total, the study included 127 pregnant women with a median age of 27.0 years (interquartile range [IQR] 23.0‒31.2) and a median gestational (IQR) age of 25.0 (IQR 25.0‒27.0) weeks. The medians (IQRs) of the TSH, FT3, and FT4 were 1.600 (1.162‒2.092) IU/ml, 2.020(1.772‒2.240) nmol/l, and 10.70 (9.60‒11.90) pmol/l, respectively. The median (IQR) of the FPG and fasting blood insulin level was [69.0 (62.00‒78.00) mg/dl] and [5.68(2.99‒11.66) IU/ml], respectively. The median (IQR) of the HOMA-IR level was 0.9407 (0.4356‒2.1410). There was a positive correlation between HOMA -IR and FT3 levels (r = 0.375; P < 0.001) and a negative correlation with FT4 levels (r= -0.312; P < 0.001). Also, a significant positive correlation was found between fasting insulin levels and FT3 levels (r = 0.438; P < 0.001) and a negative correlation with FT4 levels (r= -0.305; P < 0.001)., Conclusions: This study indicated that FT3 has positive correlation with HOMA-IR, while FT4 has negative correlation among healthy pregnant women without a history of thyroid dysfunction. This may indicate screening of euthyroid pregnant women for thyroid dysfunction and IR. Further studies are needed., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Physiological and biochemical changes during normal pregnancy may precipitate a state of insulin resistance (IR) without disrupting the body's physiology. The present study aimed to investigate the association between the indices of insulin sensitivity and blood pressure among normotensive and euglycemic pregnant women. The present cross-sectional study was conducted between February and December, 2021. It comprised 133 normal pregnant women who were non-diabetic and had normal blood pressure. The oral glucose tolerance test and fasting insulin levels were assessed, and the indices of insulin sensitivity and β-cell function were computed between the 24th and 28th weeks of gestation. A multivariate linear regression analysis was conducted to investigate the factors affecting systolic and diastolic blood pressure levels, including the indices of insulin sensitivity, β-cell function and others. Univariate linear analysis revealed that fasting insulin levels (β=0.95, P=0.027), the quantitative insulin sensitivity check index (QUICKI; β=-24.39, P=0.012) and diastolic blood pressure (β=0.76, P<0.001) were associated with systolic blood pressure. Of note, parity (β=0.83, P=0.031), fasting insulin levels (β=0.63, P=0.010), homeostasis model assessment of IR (HOMA-IR; β=3.19, P=0.013) and QUICKI (β=-11.97, P=0.029) were the factors that were associated with diastolic blood pressure. In the multivariate linear regression analysis, neither fasting insulin, nor QUICKI were found to be associated with systolic blood pressure. Fasting insulin levels (β=0.48; P=0.040), HOMA-IR (β=2.51; P=0.043) were associated with diastolic blood pressure. On the whole, in the present study, fasting insulin levels and HOMA-IR were associated with diastolic blood pressure levels without the emergence of high blood pressure readings or gestational diabetes. Further studies with a longitudinal approach are warranted to further identify associations with IR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]