Screening of Diabetes in Pregnancy

Abstract

The prevalence of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is approximately 6% of pregnant women in the United States. The prevalence ranges is about from 2% to 38% worldwide and varies among racial-ethnic groups, often paralleling the prevalence of type 2 diabetes. The prevalence also varies due to differences in screening practices, population characteristics (eg, mean age and body mass index [BMI] of pregnant women), testing method, and diagnostic criteria. The prevalence is increasing over time, possibly due to increases in mean maternal age and weight, particularly with increasing obesity. In 2010, the International Association of Diabetes and Pregnancy Study Groups proposed new screening and diagnostic criteria for diabetes in pregnancy. Using these criteria, the global prevalence of hyperglycemia in pregnancy is estimated at 17%, with regional estimates ranging from 10% in North America to 25% in Southeast Asia. Different screening programs are carried out in different clinics, and all these differences lead to different results in the frequency of GDM. The criteria of the method and threshold value acceptance depends on the health policies of the countries, the experience of the clinicians and the characteristics of the patient population. In this review, we analyzed the methods recommended for GDM screening in pregnancy.