[Post-prandial plasma glucose test as screening tool for gestational diabetes: A prospective randomized trial]

Abstract

Objective: To compare one hour postprandial glucose measurements with the one hour 50gm plasma glucose test as predictors of gestational diabetes.

Subjects and methods: One hundred women at 24-28 weeks' gestation were prospectively randomized for both screening methods: one hour postprandial and one hour 50gm plasma glucose test with a one-week-interval between tests. A week later a formal 2-hour 75gm glucose tolerance test was done in each case.

Results: Of the 95 patients who completed the study 13 had gestational diabetes (13.6%). For a threshold of 7.1mmol/l the sensitivity of 1-hour postprandial plasma glucose screening test was 84.6% with a specificity of 87.8%. These values were respectively 84.6% and 81.7% for 1-hour 50 gm plasma glucose test screening test. A threshold of 7.7mmol/l yielded a sensitivity of 60.5% with a specificity of 91.4% for the 1-hour postprandial plasma glucose screening test (69.2% and 86.5% for 1-hour 50gm plasma glucose test)

Conclusion: In our study the 1-hour postprandial plasma glucose screening test was as effective as the 1-hour 50 gm plasma glucose test screening test for gestational diabetes.