Gestational Diabetes Mellitus

Publication Date: May 30, 2018

Screening and Referral

Screening and Referral

According to the American Diabetes Association (ADA), “Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is diabetes diagnosed in the second or third trimester of pregnancy that is not clearly either type 1 or type 2 diabetes (ADA, 2016)."

All pregnant women are generally tested for GDM between 24–28 weeks of gestation, [American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), 2013] if they have not previously been diagnosed with overt diabetes.

Screening and diagnosis of GDM may be made by one of two strategies at 24–28 weeks of gestation:

ONE-STEP STRATEGY:

Perform a 75g oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT), with plasma glucose measurement when patient is fasting and at 1 and 2 hours. The OGTT should be performed in the morning after an overnight fast of at least 8 hours. A GDM diagnosis is made when any of the following plasma glucose values are met or exceeded:
Time Criteria
Fasting 92 mg/dL (5.1 mmol/L)
1 h 180 mg/dL (10.0 mmol/L)
2 h 153 mg/dL (8.5 mmol/L)
TWO-STEP STRATEGY:

Step 1: Perform a 50g glucose load test (GLT) (nonfasting), with plasma glucose measurement at 1 hour. If the plasma glucose level measured 1 hour after the load is ≥140 mg/dL (7.8 mmol/L), proceed to a 100g OGTT.
[Note: The ACOG recommends 135mg/dL (7.5mmol/L) in high-risk ethnic populations with higher prevalence of GDM. Some experts also recommend 130mg/dL (7.2 mmol/L).]

Step 2: The 100g OGTT should be performed when the patient is fasting.
A GDM diagnosis is made if at least two of the following four plasma glucose levels (measured fasting and 1 h, 2 h, 3 h after the OGTT) are met or exceeded:
Time Carpenter/Coustan National Diabetes
Data Group
Fasting 95 mg/dL (5.3 mmol/L) OR 105 mg/dL (5.8 mmol/L)
1 h 180 mg/dL (10.0 mmol/L) OR <190 mg/dL (10.6 mmol/L)
2 h 155 mg/dL (8.6 mmol/L) OR 165 mg/dL (9.2 mmol/L)
3 h 140 mg/dL (7.8 mmol/L) OR 145 mg/dL (8.0 mmol/L)

GDM: Referral to an RDN

Pregnant women who are diagnosed with GDM should be referred to a registered dietitian nutritionist (RDN) for medical nutrition therapy (MNT). Individualized MNT is important in helping pregnant women with GDM achieve and maintain normal glycemic levels and appropriate weight gain, while meeting essential nutrients for pregnancy to promote positive maternal and fetal outcomes. (Strong, Imperative)
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Nutrition Assessment

...Nutrition Assess...

GDM: Assessment of Food/Nutrition-Related Histor...


...ssessment of Anthropometric Measureme...


...DM: Assessment of Biochemical Data, Medical Te...


GDM: Assessment of Nutrition-Focused Physical...


Nutrition Intervention

...Nutrition Intervention...

...Medical Nutrition Therapy (MNT)The RDN should pr...


GDM: Frequency and Duration of MNTThe RDN shoul...


...PrescriptionFor women with GDM, the RDN should ind...


GDM: Macronutrient RequirementsIn women with GD...


...hydrate PrescriptionThe RDN should individualize...


...ohydrate and Post Prandial Breakfast Glycemia...


...etary Vitamin and Mineral IntakeTh...


...in and Mineral SupplementationThe RDN sh...


...Meal and Snack DistributionIn wome...


...-Intensity SweetenersIn pregnant wo...


...IntakeThe RDN should reinforce abstinen...


...al ActivityUnless contraindicated, the RDN s...


Nutrition Monitoring and Evaluation

...Nutritio...

...ition Monitoring and EvaluationFollo...