Gestational diabetes mellitus: are mothers being followed-up? A retrospective study

Ward, Rebecca; Hanna, Fahmy W; Shelley-Hitchen, Ann; Hodgson, Ellen; Heald, Adrian; Fryer, Anthony A; Duff, Christopher J

Abstract

Background Women with gestational diabetes (GDM) have an elevated risk of developing type 2 diabetes (T2DM). NICE Guidance recommends women who develop GDM are screened 6 weeks post-partum and annually thereafter.

Aim To evaluate conformity to guidance of screening in women with GDM by 6-week post-partum fasting plasma glucose (FPG) and annual FPG and determine time between delivery and development of T2DM.

Method Records at a tertiary referral centre were used to identify women (n = 54) diagnosed with GDM by antenatal oral glucose tolerance test between July 1999 and January 2007. Data from laboratory records were used to collect investigations of glycaemic status during the follow-up period (median follow-up 12.4 years, range 9.5–17.1 years).

Results Of 252 women, 102 (40.2%) did not have a FPG at 6 weeks (+/−2 weeks). Of these, median time to first test was 1.2 years (range 0.04–10.8 years), with only 43.1% followed-up within 1 year. In those who had a 6-week FPG, 17 (11.3%) women had no further tests. A total of 84 (33% of those with gestational diabetes in the index pregnancy) women were diagnosed with T2DM; median time from delivery to diagnosis was 5.2 years (range 0.35–15.95). We found the only significant factor for a follow-up test at 1-year post-partum was the use of insulin.

Conclusion Our data suggest an alternative approach is needed for monitoring women with a history of GDM. This needs to be appropriate for a generally healthy group in which traditional screening mechanisms may not be adequate or sufficient.

Citation

Ward, R., Hanna, F. W., Shelley-Hitchen, A., Hodgson, E., Heald, A., Fryer, A. A., & Duff, C. J. (2018, June). Gestational diabetes mellitus: are mothers being followed-up? A retrospective study

• Presentation Conference Type: Poster
• Deposit Date: Feb 14, 2024
• Publisher: Royal College of General Practitioners
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.3399/bjgp18X697469
• Publisher URL: https://bjgp.org/content/68/suppl_1/bjgp18X697469
• Related Public URLs: https://bjgp.org/content/68/suppl_1