The importance of fasting blood glucose in screening for gestational diabetes

J Matern Fetal Neonatal Med. 2015 May;28(7):825-8. doi: 10.3109/14767058.2014.935322. Epub 2014 Jul 11.

Abstract

Objective: To determine how well an isolated abnormal fasting blood glucose (FBG) value on the 1-step, 75-g, 2-hour glucose tolerance test (GTT) indicates significant gestational diabetes (GDM).

Methods: Retrospective cohort study, January 2011 to May 2012. Patients diagnosed by the 1-step method were assigned by their abnormal results to the isolated fasting (FBG), isolated 1-hour (1HBG), isolated 2-hour (2HBG), or multiple-value (≥2BG) group. Characteristics and outcomes were compared using ANOVA, Kruskal--Wallis, and Chi-squared tests.

Results: 324 patients were included. Compared to other groups, the FBG group (N = 23) had the highest incidence of requiring medical therapy (78.26%), mean body mass index (29.40 ± 6.20 kg/m(2)), and percentage of Black plus Hispanic women (60.87%).

Conclusions: Seven percent of women were diagnosed with GDM by an isolated abnormal fasting BG and have significant disease. This group should not be missed; therefore, fasting BG should be integrated into all GDM screening.

Keywords: 1-step method; 2-hour glucose tolerance test; 2-step method.

Publication types

  • Evaluation Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Biomarkers / blood
  • Blood Glucose / metabolism*
  • Diabetes, Gestational / blood
  • Diabetes, Gestational / diagnosis*
  • Fasting / blood*
  • Female
  • Glucose Tolerance Test
  • Humans
  • Pregnancy
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Sensitivity and Specificity

Substances

  • Biomarkers
  • Blood Glucose