Ufuk ATLIHAN, Can ATA, Onur YAVUZ, Hüseyin Aytuğ AVŞAR, Mehmet Emre PEKER, Tevfik Berk BİLDACI, Alper İLERİ, Selçuk ERKILINÇ
Cyprus Journal of Medical Sciences - 2026;11(3):218-222
BACKGROUND/AIMS: The present study investigated whether the triglyceride-glucose (TyG) index could serve as a predictive marker for gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). MATERIALS AND METHODS: This retrospective case-control analysis included pregnant women who were followed and delivered at our institution between April 2018 and April 2024. Among 1,360 evaluated pregnancies, 64 women diagnosed with GDM were assigned to the study group, while 132 uncomplicated singleton pregnancies were assigned to the control group. Clinical characteristics, obstetric outcomes, and metabolic parameters were compared between groups. First-trimester laboratory measurements, including fasting glucose, triglycerides (TG), total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, body mass index (BMI), TyG index, and TyG-BMI, were obtained from medical records. RESULTS: Women with GDM demonstrated significantly higher BMI values than controls (p=0.021) and delivered at an earlier gestational age (p<0.001). In addition, TG levels, fasting glucose, TG/HDL-C ratio, TyG index, and TyG-BMI index were significantly elevated in the GDM group (p<0.05 for all comparisons). Multivariable logistic regression analysis, adjusted for maternal age, BMI, smoking status, and parity, revealed that the TyG index was independently associated with GDM [adjusted odds ratio: 1.85, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.14-3.02, p=0.013]. Effect size estimates and CIs supported the clinical relevance of these findings. CONCLUSION: The TyG index may represent a practical and cost-effective marker for identifying women at increased risk of GDM. Incorporating this index into routine antenatal evaluation could support earlier risk stratification and improve preventive care strategies.
