Fasting and post-prandial plasma glucose screening for gestational diabetes mellitus

Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is defined as impaired glucose tolerance with onset during the second or third trimester of pregnancy.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the prevalence of pregnant women who were not screened for gestational diabetes mellitus and compare the maternal and fetal outcomes of women who had undergone GDM screening.

Women who refused to attend the gestational diabetes screening test (n = 162) at a maternity hospital in Ankara, Turkey, between October 2014 and January 2015 were included in this prospective cohort study. The control group (matched for age and body mass index) was recruited from women who agreed to have the gestational diabetes screening test (n = 194).

Just 12% of pregnant women did not attend gestational diabetes screening test; these women were at higher risk for idiopathic polyhydramnios (P = 0.026). Prevalence of GDM was 8.8% (n = 17) in the control group and 30.9% (n = 50) in those who refused GDM screening. The maternal and fetal outcomes of GDM patients were similar in both groups. Women who did not attend GDM screening test had increased risk for mild idiopathic polyhydramnios in late gestation.

Fasting and postprandial plasma glucose screening can replace gestational diabetes mellitus screening in women who refuse to have the glucose load test.