Who returns for postpartum glucose screening following gestational diabetes mellitus?

Objective

The objective of the study was to determine the prevalence of postpartum impaired glucose regulation (IGR) and factors associated with glucose screening following gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM).

Study Design

This was a prospective cohort study of 707 women with GDM who delivered at the University Hospital (San Antonio, TX).

Results

A total of 35.5% of 400 women with any postpartum glucose testing had IGR postpartum, and 40.6% of 288 women who completed an oral glucose tolerance test had IGR, one-third of whom had isolated elevated 2-hour glucose levels. Women who failed to return for postpartum glucose testing (n = 307) were more likely to report prior GDM, have higher diagnostic glucose levels, and require insulin during pregnancy than women who returned for postpartum glucose testing.

Conclusion

Women who returned for postpartum glucose testing had less severe GDM than women who failed to return, suggesting that the true prevalence of postpartum IGR may be even higher than identified in our population.

Key words: gestational diabetes mellitus, postpartum testing, prediabetes