Early Screening for Gestational Diabetes Mellitus

Early Screening for Gestational Diabetes Mellitus

The working hypothesis of this proposal is that screening for gestational diabetes mellitus as early as the 1st trimester is efficient for detecting the forthcoming presence or absence of gestational diabetes mellitus. The investigators long-term goal is the prevention of gestational diabetes mellitus onset i.e. the prevention of progression to gestational diabetes mellitus, in order to enable delivery of appropriate counselling, diagnostics and treatment for pregnant women, as well as to improve pregnancy outcomes. Therefore, robust 1st trimester screening criteria is needed.

The overall objective of this proposal is to determine an accurate and valid 1st trimester 1h post 50g oral glucose challenge test plasma glucose cut-off value that is predictive of gestational diabetes mellitus onset.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Age > 18 yrs
• Gestational age between 6 and 13 weeks from last menstrual period,
• Alcohol < 2 drinks/day
• Not involved in regular high intensity physical activity
• Singleton pregnancy
• Otherwise good health status.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Type 1 or type 2 diabetes
• Taking drugs interfering with glucose metabolism