Clinical Analysis Of Postpartum Follow-up In Women With Gestational Diabetes Mellitus

BackgroundWomen with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) are prone todevelop metabolic syndrome (MetS) and glycometabolism disorders suchas diabetes mellitus (DM) and impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) later inlife. Screening with oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) at6-12weekspostpartum is recommend by most major associations including AmericanDiabetes Association.ObjectiveTo investigate the follow-up rate and outcomes of OGTT in womenwith GDM at week6, week24and week48postpartum.MethodsThirty women with GDM were evaluated at elective cesareandelivery. They were divided into three groups as DM, IGT and normalglucose tolerance (NGT) according to the outcomes of OGTT performedat week6, week24and week48postpartum. The follow-up rate and outcomes of OGTT were analysed in different weeks postpartum.Association between outcomes of OGTT at6week postpartum andfollow-up rate at week24and week48postpartum in GDM were alsoanalysed respectively.ResultsThe follow-up rate was70%at week6postpartum and decreasedwith increasing length of follow-up, but there was no statisticallysignificant difference (P>0.05). Outcomes of OGTT revealed9.5%,7.1%,7.1%cases with DM and19.0%,28.6%,21.4%with IGT at week6,week24and week48week postpartum respectively, with no statisticaldifference (P>0.05). The follow-up rate of the glycometabolism disordersdiagnosed at week6were both higher than the NGT at week24and week48postpartum, with no association between outcomes of OGTT at week6postpartum and follow-up rate at week24and week48respectively(P>0.05).Conclusions1.The follow-up rate of GDM was low, and decreased with increasinglength of follow-up. Measures should be taken to improve the rate offollow-up．2.There were generally glycometabolism disorders in patients with GDM at6-48weeks postpartum．As a group，they are worthy oflong-term follow-up to prevent or retard the progress to DM．...