A protocol of screening of gestational diabetes mellitus

We evaluated GDM frequency in the Padua area. 490 non-diabetic pregnant women were divided into group A (234), with at least one GDM risk factor, and group B (256), with no risk factors. Group A underwent this screening program with oral glucose challenge test (OGCT) and OGTT when OGCT was positive at 10-14th gestational week (gw), at 24-28th gw and at 30-34th gw. Group B underwent the same screening starting at 24-28th gw. 46.9% of the pregnant women had positive OGCT with higher frequency in group A (group A vs group B p < 0.01). GDM prevalence in all women was 10.8% with higher frequency in group A women (group A vs group B p < 0.01). The anticipation of the screening at the first trimester of pregnancy in group A women allowed early diagnosis of 11.6% of GDM. Regarding maternal and fetal outcome the only significative differences between GDM and non-GDM were prevalence of macrosomia and of cesarean sections.