Routine screening for gestational diabetes mellitus in a family practice center

In the past women were evaluated for gestational diabetes only if certain historical risk factors were present; recently, the Family Practice Department at West Virginia University began screening all pregnant women. Sixteen of 50 women tested had an abnormal screening test. Of these, 15 had oral glucose tolerance testing, which led to three having a diagnosis of gestational diabetes. The universal screening was found to be more sensitive in finding cases of gestational diabetes, while the average cost per patient for glucose testing was increased by less than $2.