Problems in screening for gestational diabetes mellitus by measurement of casual blood glucose levels at 24–28 gestational weeks

Abstract

Aims/Introduction: This study aimed to evaluate the problems in screening for gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) by casual blood glucose (CBG) measurements at 24–28 gestational weeks. Materials and Methods: Overall, 763 pregnant women who underwent the 50-g glucose challenge test (GCT) at 24–28 gestational weeks were enrolled. The preload blood glucose (0-h BG) level of 50-g GCT was considered as CBG. Results: A total of 240 women with BG levels at 1-h after loading (1-h BG) on 50-g GCT ≥140 mg/dL underwent the 75-g oral glucose tolerance test, and 98 (40.8%) were diagnosed with GDM. Of the 99 women with GDM, 71 (71.7%) had 0-h BG on 50-g GCT <100 mg/dL. Conclusions: This study, where pregnant women underwent both CBG and 50-g GCT simultaneously, showed that when CBG at 24–28 gestational weeks ≥100 mg/dL alone was used for screening GDM, many pregnant women with GDM were overlooked.