Immediate Postpartum Glucose Tolerance Testing

Gestational diabetes affects approximately 5-10% of pregnancies and its prevalence continues to increase as rates of obesity and metabolic disease increase in reproductive age women. Women diagnosed with gestational diabetes carry an increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes later in life, even if their glucose tolerance initially normalizes following delivery.

The gold standard assessment of glucose tolerance postpartum is a two hour glucose tolerance test (GTT) that is completed between six and twelve weeks' postpartum. Unfortunately, the compliance rate with this test is low, ranging from 30 - 50% by most reports. As a result, a large number of women with glucose intolerance are missed due to noncompliance with postpartum testing, thereby forfeiting the opportunity for diagnosis, treatment and prevention of longterm health consequences. The postpartum hospital stay provides a unique opportunity to increase compliance with glucose tolerance testing due to an increased rate of patient capture. However, it is unknown if administration of a glucose tolerance test in the immediate postpartum period would adequately identify women with persistent glucose intolerance.

The current study aims to provide data towards the accuracy of an immediate postpartum GTT in a population of women with gestational diabetes and provide follow-up data on women with abnormal testing.

Inclusion criteria

• Pregnant or recently postpartum (postpartum day 0 or 1)
• ≥ 18 years of age
• Gestational age ≥34 weeks
• A1 or A2 gestational diabetes

Exclusion criteria

• Medical exclusion from completing glucose tolerance testing
• Steroid administration within 10 days prior to enrollment
• Chronic steroid use