title: Patient counseling increases postpartum follow-up in women with gestational diabetes mellitus.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The objective of the study was to evaluate the efficacy of an educational intervention at increasing the rates of postpartum (PP) follow-up for women with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM).
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective cohort study of all patients with GDM delivering during 2002-2009 was conducted. The primary outcome was obtaining PP diabetes testing. The 2002-2006 cohort was advised to obtain PP testing by their providers. The 2007-2009 cohort received educational counseling at the 37-38 week visit by a nurse educator. Univariate and multivariable statistical tests were utilized.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The PP testing frequency was 53% for the 2007-2009 cohort, compared with 33% for the 2002-2006 cohort (P < .001). When stratified by race/ethnicity, increased rates of testing were seen in whites (28% to 53%, P < .001), Latinas (15% to 50%, P < .001), and Asians (43% to 59%, P = .005). There was a nonsignificant decrease in the African American follow-up, 28% to 17% (P = .414).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  GDM precedes the development of type 2 diabetes. Antepartum education counseling increases postpartum diabetes testing. More efforts are needed to obtain universal screening.
authors.affiliation: Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Marina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Stasenko
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Liddell
authors.forename: Yvonne W
authors.initials: YW
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.forename: Teresa N
authors.initials: TN
authors.lastname: Sparks
authors.forename: Molly
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Killion
authors.forename: Aaron B
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Caughey
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000517:prevention & control; D016640:Diabetes, Gestational / Q000628:therapy; D037001:Directive Counseling; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D011181:Postnatal Care; D011247:Pregnancy; D012189:Retrospective Studies