In a serial study of insulin receptor binding to monocytes from normal pregnant women, a significant increase in insulin binding in mid pregnancy followed by a significant decrease in late pregnancy at tracer insulin concentration was found. No changes in the insulin concentration necessary to reduce tracer binding by 50% (ID50) were observed. At delivery, binding to isolated adipocytes was significantly lower in normal pregnant women than in non-pregnant normal controls while no difference in ID50 was observed. No differences in insulin binding at tracer insulin concentration to monocytes and adipocytes between normal weight women with gestational diabetes and healthy non-diabetic pregnant controls were found, but the ID50 was significantly lower in women with gestational diabetes diagnosed in late pregnancy than in pregnant controls at the same weeks of gestation.