Diagnostic Criteria for Gestational Diabetes (GDM)

Diagnostic Criteria for Gestational Diabetes (GDM)

            Gestational diabetes mellitus is defined as any degree of glucose intolerance with onset or first recognition during pregnancy. The definition applies regardless of whether insulin or only diet modification is used for treatment or of whether the condition persists after the pregnancy. It does not exclude the possibility that unrecognized glucose intolerance may have antedated or begun concomitantly with the pregnancy.

            Six weeks or more after the pregnancy ends, she should be reclassified, based on the criteria for diabetes as 1) diabetes 2) IFG 3) IGT or 4) normoglycemia.

            Previous recommendations were that screening for GDM be performed in all the pregnancies. However, there are certain factors that place a woman at a lower risk of development of glucose intolerance during pregnancy, and it is likely not cost-effective screen such patients. This low risk group comprises of women 1) who are of less than 25 years of age. 2) Have normal body weight. 3)  have no family history (first degree relatives) of the values obtained during the test to meet or exceed the values shown above.