Early random capillary glucose level screening and multidisciplinary antenatal teamwork to improve outcome in gestational diabetes mellitus.

Background: This study describes maternal and neonatal characteristics and delivery outcome in women with gestational diabetes mellitus [GDM], compared to a control group.

Methods: A retrospective observational study of 719 women with GDM was undertaken in a Swedish urban district. All other parturients at the same hospital served as the control group. GDM was diagnosed using random capillary glucose levels at fixed intervals, beginning early in pregnancy. An oral glucose tolerance test was performed at glucose levels>or=7.0 mmol/l (127.8 mg/dl). Data was analysed according to glucose levels at diagnosis, ie, mild or severe GDM.

Results: GDM was diagnosed in 2.28% of the women who were older and had higher Body Mass Index [BMI]. A high proportion was of non-Nordic origin (44.5%); they had severe GDM more often (49.1%) than the Nordic group (33.1%). The GDM-mild group had less complications and abnormalities, compared to the GDM-severe group, although both groups differed from the control group in this respect. Delivery was spontaneous in 70.2% of GDM-mild, 65.7% of GDM-severe and 81.0% of the control group. LGA (+2 SD) was found in 4.8, 10.5 and 3.2%, respectively.

Conclusion: Early non-fasting random universal screening and multidisciplinary antenatal teamwork intervention seems to be favourable, with low rates of excessive fetal growth, instrumental vaginal delivery and caesarean section.