Postpartum glucose screening among women with gestational diabetes

(1) Determine the rate of completion of glucose screening for diabetes in the postpartum period for women who had gestational diabetes mellitus, and (2) compare the rates of follow up glucose screening among women who had A1GDM or A2GDM 4-12 weeks postoartum.

A retrospective comparative study.

An academic hospital in an urban community.

One hundred and seventy-five women with gestational diabetes who gave birth between January 2012 and September 2015.

The electronic medical record was reviewed to confirm diagnosis of gestational diabetes at 24-28 weeks and completion of 4-12 weeks postpartum glucose screening. All consecutive women meeting eligibility criteria were included.

The rate of postpartum glucose screening was 38.9%. There were 22 (31.0%) women with A1GDM and 46 (44.2%) women with A2GDM who had postpartum glucose screening (χ² = 3.12, p = 0.08).

The type of GDM, did not affect the rate of follow-up for postpartum glucose screening. Strategies need to be developed to improve postpartum screening rates in women with gestational diabetes.