Patient counseling increases postpartum follow-up in women with gestational diabetes mellitus.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of the study was to evaluate the efficacy of an educational intervention at increasing the rates of postpartum (PP) follow-up for women with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective cohort study of all patients with GDM delivering during 2002-2009 was conducted. The primary outcome was obtaining PP diabetes testing. The 2002-2006 cohort was advised to obtain PP testing by their providers. The 2007-2009 cohort received educational counseling at the 37-38 week visit by a nurse educator. Univariate and multivariable statistical tests were utilized. RESULTS: The PP testing frequency was 53% for the 2007-2009 cohort, compared with 33% for the 2002-2006 cohort (P < .001). When stratified by race/ethnicity, increased rates of testing were seen in whites (28% to 53%, P < .001), Latinas (15% to 50%, P < .001), and Asians (43% to 59%, P = .005). There was a nonsignificant decrease in the African American follow-up, 28% to 17% (P = .414). CONCLUSION: GDM precedes the development of type 2 diabetes. Antepartum education counseling increases postpartum diabetes testing. More efforts are needed to obtain universal screening.

50-Gram glucose challenge test: is it indicative of outcomes in women without gestational diabetes mellitus?

OBJECTIVE: To examine whether the 50-gram glucose challenge test (GCT) is associated with perinatal outcomes in women without gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). METHODS: This is a retrospective cohort study of 13,789 women who received the GCT and did not have a diagnosis of GDM at the University of California, San Francisco UCSF. GCT values were categorized and examined as predictors of perinatal morbidity using chi-square test and multivariable logistic regression analyses adjusting for maternal characteristics. RESULTS: In women with an elevated GCT but without GDM, the odds of preeclampsia, cesarean delivery, and elevated birth weight were increased. The odds of large-for-gestational age status were increased with aOR 2.0 (95% CI 1.38-2.90) in the 160-179 mg/dl group. The odds of shoulder dystocia was increased with aOR 3.35 (CI 1.03-10.88) in the ≥180 mg/dl group. CONCLUSION: In women without GDM, elevated 50-gram GCT values were associated with higher odds of perinatal morbidity. These findings further support evidence that impaired glucose tolerance is a continuum with possible associated adverse outcomes even at mild ranges; additional research is required to investigate appropriate interventions for women with abnormal screens for GDM.