Postpartum screening following GDM: how well are we doing?
Once diagnosed with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), a woman has a sevenfold increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes relative to women who do not have diabetes during pregnancy. In addition, up to one third of women with GDM have overt diabetes, impaired fasting glucose, or impaired glucose tolerance identified during postpartum glucose screening completed within 6 to 12 weeks. Therefore, the American Diabetes Association, the World Health Organization, and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists currently recommend postpartum glucose screening following GDM. However, despite this recommendation, in many settings the majority of women with GDM fail to return for postpartum glucose testing. Studies conducted to date have not comprehensively examined the health care system, the physician, or the patient determinants of successful screening. These studies are required to help develop standard clinical procedures that enable and encourage all women to return for postpartum glucose screening following GDM.
Hunt
Kelly J
KJ
Division of Biostatistics & Epidemiology/Department of Medicine, Medical University of South Carolina, Suite 303, Charleston, SC 29425, USA. huntke@musc.edu
Logan
Sarah L
SL
Conway
Deborah L
DL
Korte
Jeffrey E
JE
D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis; D016640:Diabetes, Gestational / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005260:Female; D006287:Health Planning Guidelines; D006801:Humans; D008403:Mass Screening; D049590:Postpartum Period / Q000097:blood*; D011247:Pregnancy
D001786:Blood Glucose