Effectiveness of Screening Practices for Diabetes Mellitus in Pregnant Women, Health Promoting Hospital ,Nakornsawan

The Health Promoting Hospital, Nakornsawan Province had implemented a screening test for diabetes mellitus in pregnant women since 2004.  In 2009, the guideline of the screening test was adjusted and implemented in June 2009.  The objective of this study is to examine the effectiveness of the new screening guideline by comparing the prevalence of diabetes mellitus among pregnant women diagnosed by the old and new screening guidelines; and comparing blood sugar levels of pregnant women with diabetes mellitus, before and after their participation in the nutritional counseling program as part of the screening test.  We obtained data from medical records of the pregnant women attending the Health Promoting Hospital, Nakornsawan Province from October 2007 to September 2012 to assess the prevalence of diabetes mellitus, and data on blood sugar levels from June 2009 to September 2012 to evaluate the effects of nutrition counseling program on reduction of blood sugar levels of those diagnosed with diabetes mellitus. Paired sample t-test was used to compare their mean blood sugar levels before and after participation in the nutrition counseling program.   In comparison with the old screening guideline, the new screening guideline yielded a higher prevalence of diabetes mellitus in pregnant women over the study period.  After participating in the nutritional counseling program, significant reductions of mean blood sugar levels after the second follow up, and after 2 hrs of food consumption were found (p <0.05).   In conclusion, the findings demonstrated the effectiveness of the new screening guideline in detecting diabetes mellitus among pregnant women, as well as the effects nutritional counseling program on reduction of blood sugar levels of diabetes mellitus pregnant women. This new screening approach could be applied in other health promoting hospitals for early detection and control of diabetes mellitus in pregnant women.