Early diabetes screening in obese women

To describe maternal characteristics related to early screening for diabetes in obese women and evaluate the benefits of early diabetes screening and diagnosis.

Retrospective cohort of obese women (BMI ≥30 kg/m²) without pregestational diabetes who delivered a singleton gestation between 2011 and 2012. Maternal characteristics/demographics and maternal and neonatal outcomes were compared between women with early diabetes screening (<20 weeks) versus traditional screening. We additionally compared maternal and neonatal outcomes for women with an early versus traditional diabetes diagnosis.

Of the 504 eligible women, 135 (26.8%) had early diabetes screening. Obese women with early screening were older, had a higher BMI, were more likely to have hypertension and neonates admitted to the NICU. Of women with early screening, 31 (23%) were diagnosed early. Women with an early diagnosis of diabetes were more likely to require treatment with insulin (36% vs. 23%, p = 0.003). Women with an early diagnosis of diabetes were more likely to have neonates in the NICU (48% vs. 26%, p = 0.03).

Early screening for diabetes was more common in older women with additional comorbidities. Obese women diagnosed via early screening were more likely to require medical treatment for diabetes, suggesting a value to early screening.