Screening of potential diabetic patients with fasting plasma glucose and oral glucose tolerance test

: Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is a frequent complication in pregnancy and occurs with an incidence of about 1.5%. The condition is related to an increased perinatal morbidity and mortality, which can be reduced by treatment. Therefore screening is indicated. The potential diabetics were examined twice with fasting plasma glucose (F-PG) and when F-Pg was greater than or equal to 4.1 mmol/l one or several 75 g's oral glucose tolerance tests (OGTT) were performed. Going through 3421 case reports we found 8% potential diabetics. Four % were examined with F-PG and OGTT whereby we found 1.2% women with GDM. Previous GDM, obesity, positive family history for diabetes and glucosuria were important risk factors, whereas actual or earlier birth of a heavy baby seemed to be a little importance. We propose, that the F-PG cut-off point to carry out the OGTT can be raised to 4.6 mmol/l. If one only uses F-PG, then it should be measured after 31th, week of gestation, as most cases of abnormal OGTT occurs at that time.