4 Jun 2024 • Fasting plasma glucose levels in the first trimester are indicators of subsequent gestational diabetes.

Women diagnosed with gestational diabetes between 24 and 28 weeks of pregnancy had higher fasting plasma glucose levels in their first trimester and these levels surpassing 5.1 mmol/L (92 mg/dL) in the initial stages of pregnancy are associated with adverse fetomaternal outcomes like preterm delivery, macrosomia, gestational hypertension, and pre-eclampsia.

While the World Health Organization (WHO) recommends the OGTT (Oral Glucose Tolerance Test) applying IADPSG (International Association of Diabetes and Pregnancy Study Groups) cut-offs as a reliable method to assess gestational diabetes, the ADA (American Diabetes Association) favors A1C as the preferred one as it can be performed more easily.

An A1C ≥ 5.9% (41 mmol/mol) or an FPG ≥ 6.1 mmol/L (110 mg/dL) is indicative of early abnormal glucose metabolism leading to gestational diabetes and adverse pregnancy outcomes. This meta-analysis included 115,899 participants from 16 studies.

Source: Diabetes & Metabolic Syndrome: Clinical Research & Reviews | Read full story