Are There Any Clinical Benefits to Screening for Late -Onset Gestational Diabetes Mellitus?"

Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is defined as glucose tolerance disorder that first occurs during pregnancy.It is estimated that GDM occurs in approximately 10% of pregnancies.

Gestational diabetes mellitus usually develops after the 24th week of pregnancy due to placental hormones blocking the effects of insulin (increasing insulin resistance).Hormonal changes in the body and placenta of pregnant women, such as estrogen, cortisol, and placental prolactin, together promote the development of insulin resistance.

The risk of preeclampsia and premature birth is increased in expectant mothers diagnosed with gestational diabetes.In the newborn, it may cause macrosomia, neonatal hypoglycemia, jaundice, hypocalcemia, polycythemia, respiratory distress syndrome (RDS), congenital malformations and stillbirth.

In Turkey, it is recommended that pregnant women have a GDM screening test at 24-28 weeks of gestation. However, pregnant women have prejudices against the test because there are people in their close circle, on the internet and on television screens who recommend not doing this test. Our aim in this study is to detect the pregnant women who do not have the sugar loading test and those whose fasting blood sugar is above 92mg/dl in their routine blood screenings at 32-34 weeks of pregnancy. In this way, the presence of late-term impaired sugar metabolism with high fasting blood sugar. We aim to detect whether it can be detected or not, and to inform and make recommendations to these pregnant patients about late-term high blood sugar and to investigate its consequences on the health of the mother and baby after birth.

Inclusion criteria

• Gestational Age: Confirmed singleton pregnancy between 32+0 and 34+6 weeks of gestation based on the last menstrual period (LMP) and/or first-trimester crown-rump length (CRL) ultrasound measurement.

Follow-up: Intention and willingness to deliver at the study hospital and complete all planned follow-up visits until the end of the postpartum period.

Informed Consent: Voluntary agreement to participate in the study evidenced by signed written informed consent.

Exclusion criteria

• Multifetal pregnancies (e.g., twins, triplets) Fetal Anomalies Pre-gestational Chronic Diseases Protocol Non-compliance / Loss to Follow-up Preterm Birth / Preterm Labor