Abstract

Introduction: In terms of gestational diabetes (GDM), the prevalence of which is not clearly defined in our country, but which is seen in our daily obstetric practice; It is important to get rid of diabetes and prevent fetal-maternal complications in pregnant follow-up. A descriptive study was planned to investigate the relationship between some clinical and laboratory parameters associated with the emergence of GDM and to evaluate known screening methods.

Methods: A descriptive study was performed on pregnant women who applied to the Izmir Atatürk Training and Research Hospital 1. Obstetrics and Gynecology Clinic and selected according to inclusion criteria. Laboratory tests were in the normal range and women with single pregnancy without chronic diseases (n = 50) were included in the study. Body mass index (BMI) was calculated before pregnancy; At the 24th gestational week, BMI was calculated, fasting plasma glucose, hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) level (6% and 7%, respectively, according to the two cut-off points), glucose value was measured. Those who had positive screening test with 50 gram glucose and positive screening test were given a diagnostic test with 100 gram glucose. When compared with cross tables, quantitative analysis was made between variables and significance was determined by Chi-square and Fisher’s Exact test.

Results: In our study, those diagnosed with GDM were 6%. When the BMI values at the 24th week of pregnancy are compared with the age groups of the patients; It was found that women in the population that we followed with the advancement of gestational age tended to gain more weight during pregnancy (p = 0.012). While the HbA1c value was accepted as 7% of the upper limit of normal, no significant difference was found. p = 0.007, Fisher full probability test p = 0.045). There was no significant correlation between BMI value, urinary glucose, fasting plasma glucose value and GDM diagnosis determined before pregnancy and at the 24th week of pregnancy.

Conclusion: Unlike HbA1c 7% cut-off point, 6% cut-off point, which proved to provide easier detection of diabetes complications such as retinopathy, was found to be statistically significant as a diagnostic method for GDM.

Key words: Gestational diabetes, human hemoglobin A1c protein, glucose intolerance