Illustration of a pregnant woman with mathematical and biological symbols, representing 1,5-AG dynamics and gestational health.

Unlocking the Secrets of 1,5-AG: How a New Model Could Revolutionize Diabetes Monitoring During Pregnancy

Avery Sinclair in Health & Wellness August 2025 • 4 min read.

"A computational approach sheds light on 1,5-AG dynamics, offering new insights for managing diabetes in pregnancy and potentially reducing risks for both mother and child."

For women with diabetes, maintaining healthy blood sugar levels is essential for a safe pregnancy and a healthy baby. Traditional biomarkers like HbA1c and daily glucose monitoring are commonly used, but they have limitations in capturing short-term glycemic fluctuations, especially during the critical gestational period. This is where 1,5-anhydroglucitol (1,5-AG) comes into play as a valuable, yet underutilized, biomarker.

1,5-AG is an intermediate biomarker that reflects glycemic control over a shorter period than HbA1c. It's also linked to increased diabetes risk and eclampsia during pregnancy. Despite its potential, physiological changes unique to pregnancy – like increased kidney filtration and plasma volume – can skew 1,5-AG levels, making interpretation tricky. A new computational model aims to clarify these dynamics, potentially revolutionizing how we monitor and manage diabetes in pregnancy.

Researchers have developed an innovative in-silico model of gestational 1,5-AG by integrating existing physiological data with a two-compartment mathematical model. This model builds on previous work to quantitatively assess the impact of renal and hemodynamic factors on 1,5-AG measurements during both normal and diabetic pregnancies. The findings offer a more precise understanding of 1,5-AG, enhancing its utility in clinical settings.

Decoding 1,5-AG: What This Model Reveals About Pregnancy and Diabetes

Illustration of a pregnant woman with mathematical and biological symbols, representing 1,5-AG dynamics and gestational health.

The computational model confirms that a simple two-compartment model accurately reflects 1,5-AG kinetics during the first two trimesters of pregnancy for both normal and diabetic women. By adjusting parameters like reabsorption fraction, the model accounts for time-dependent changes, effectively capturing 1,5-AG dynamics.

One key finding is that allowing the reabsorption fraction to decrease after 25 weeks allows for parameters that align more closely with expected physiological values during the last trimester. This suggests significant biological changes occur during this period, affecting how 1,5-AG is processed by the body.

Confirms the involvement of renal and hemodynamic mechanisms: The model supports the idea that kidney function and blood flow significantly influence 1,5-AG levels during pregnancy.
Clarifies expected 1,5-AG trends: By quantifying these influences, the model helps clinicians better understand what 1,5-AG levels mean in pregnant women.
Highlights the need for further research: The model points to biological changes in the third trimester that warrant further investigation.

Ultimately, this model provides a more nuanced framework for understanding 1,5-AG dynamics. It underscores the importance of considering pregnancy-related physiological changes when interpreting 1,5-AG levels, potentially leading to more informed clinical decisions and improved management of diabetes during pregnancy.

The Future of Diabetes Monitoring in Pregnancy

This computational model offers a significant step forward in understanding 1,5-AG dynamics during pregnancy. By confirming the role of renal and hemodynamic mechanisms and highlighting the unique changes of the third trimester, it paves the way for more effective use of this valuable biomarker. Further research is needed to fully elucidate the biological changes affecting 1,5-AG reabsorption and to refine the model for different diabetes subtypes. Ultimately, this knowledge can translate to improved clinical interpretation of 1,5-AG levels, leading to better management of diabetes in pregnancy and reduced risks for both mothers and their children.

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This article is based on research published under:

DOI-LINK: 10.14814/phy2.13375, Alternate LINK

Title: A Computational Model Of 1,5-Ag Dynamics During Pregnancy

Subject: Physiology (medical)

Journal: Physiological Reports

Publisher: Wiley

Authors: Seyedeh M. Zekavat, Slava Butkovich, Grace J. Young, David M. Nathan, Danny Petrasek

Published: 2017-08-01

Everything You Need To Know

What is 1,5-anhydroglucitol (1,5-AG), and why is it relevant in monitoring diabetes during pregnancy?

1,5-anhydroglucitol (1,5-AG) is a biomarker reflecting short-term glycemic control, useful because traditional measures like HbA1c may not capture rapid glucose fluctuations during pregnancy. Its levels are associated with diabetes risk and eclampsia in pregnant women. Physiological changes specific to pregnancy, such as increased kidney filtration and plasma volume, complicate the interpretation of 1,5-AG levels.

How does the new computational model improve our understanding of 1,5-AG dynamics in pregnancy?

The computational model enhances understanding of 1,5-AG dynamics during pregnancy by confirming the influence of renal and hemodynamic mechanisms on 1,5-AG levels. It clarifies expected 1,5-AG trends by quantifying these influences and highlighting biological changes in the third trimester that warrant further investigation. This helps in interpreting 1,5-AG levels more accurately in pregnant women.

How does the computational model of gestational 1,5-AG actually work?

The model utilizes a two-compartment mathematical model integrated with existing physiological data to quantitatively assess the impact of renal and hemodynamic factors on 1,5-AG measurements during both normal and diabetic pregnancies. By adjusting parameters like reabsorption fraction, it accounts for time-dependent changes, effectively capturing 1,5-AG dynamics during the first two trimesters.

What key findings have emerged from the computational model regarding 1,5-AG behavior across different trimesters of pregnancy?

The model confirms that a simple two-compartment model accurately reflects 1,5-AG kinetics during the first two trimesters of pregnancy for both normal and diabetic women. It also indicates that the reabsorption fraction decreases after 25 weeks, aligning with expected physiological values during the last trimester. This suggests significant biological changes occur during this period, affecting how 1,5-AG is processed by the body. Further research is needed to fully elucidate the biological changes affecting 1,5-AG reabsorption and to refine the model for different diabetes subtypes.

What are the potential implications of this computational model for the future of diabetes monitoring and management during pregnancy?

This model confirms the role of renal and hemodynamic mechanisms and highlights the unique changes of the third trimester, it paves the way for more effective use of 1,5-AG as a biomarker. This will lead to improved clinical interpretation of 1,5-AG levels, leading to better management of diabetes in pregnancy and reduced risks for both mothers and their children.