Jørgen Pedersen (1914–1978) was an

Epidemiologist Epidemiology is the study and analysis of the distribution (who, when, and where), patterns and risk factor, determinants of health and disease conditions in a defined population. It is a cornerstone of public health, and shapes policy decision ...

. He is known for his hypothesis concerning the correlation of hyperglycemia during pregnancy and disease in later life.

Life and work

In 1952 he formulated the hypothesis that hyperglycemia in pregnant women might lead to hyperglycemia in their fetuses, causing complications in infancy and later life.

Hyperglycemia Hyperglycemia is a condition in which an excessive amount of glucose circulates in the blood plasma. This is generally a blood sugar level higher than 11.1 mmol/L (200 mg/dL), but symptoms may not start to become noticeable until even ...

in pregnancy is associated with unfavorable fetal and neonatal outcomes, since an increased maternal

blood sugar Glycaemia, also known as blood sugar level, blood sugar concentration, or blood glucose level is the measure of glucose concentrated in the blood of humans or other animals. Approximately 4 grams of glucose, a simple sugar, is present in the blo ...

value correlated with increased fetal insulin levels and is involved so directly to the development of diabetic foetopathy. To consume

sugar Sugar is the generic name for sweet-tasting, soluble carbohydrates, many of which are used in food. Simple sugars, also called monosaccharides, include glucose, fructose, and galactose. Compound sugars, also called disaccharides or double ...

, soft drinks and sugary-sweetened foods is significantly positively correlated with a risk of a pathologically increased amount of glucose in the blood and diabetes. The annual Joergen Pedersen Lecture, in honor of Pedersen, has been established by the Diabetic Pregnancy Study Group of the

European Association for the Study of Diabetes The European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD) is a scientific association founded in Montecatini Terme, Italy in 1965 with Joseph Hoet as Founding President. The aims of the association are to encourage and support research in the fiel ...

since 1980.The Joergen Pedersen Lecture.
DPSG-Diabetic Pregnancy Study Group.

. 02 March 2017 (cached version). Accessed 18 October 2017.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Pedersen, Jorgen 1914 births 1978 deaths German public health doctors