MISSED OUT GESTATIONAL DIABETES MELLITUS ON SCREENING BY FIRST TRIMESTER NORMAL FASTING BLOOD SUGAR

Objective:To estimate the number of antenatal patients with normal rst trimester fasting blood sugar (FBS) develop gestational diabetes mellitus subsequently in pregnancy when diagnosed with Oral Glucose Tolerance Test (OGTT). Method: It is a prospective cohort study conducted over a span of 6 months from November 2022 to May 2023 in antenatal OPD of a tertiary medical college and hospital in Kolkata, India. All the patients with normal rst trimester Fasting blood sugar were included in the study and followed longitudinally. Patients were tested for Gestational Diabetes Mellitus by 75 grams Oral Glucose Tolerance Test at 24-26 weeks and again at 32-34 weeks gestation. Statistical Analysis was done by Absolute Risk and percentage of development of Gestational Diabetes Mellitus later in pregnancy in patients having had normal rst trimester Fasting blood sugar. Results: 128 patients (11.8%) out of 1076 cases with normal rst trimester blood sugar developed gestational diabetes mellitus later in pregnancy as diagnosed by 75 grams OGTT. Out of these 58 (45.3%) were diagnosed at 24-26 weeks of gestation and 70 (54.3%) were made at 32 – 34 weeks of gestation. Conclusion: Screening of gestational diabetes mellitus solely by rst trimester fasting blood sugar leads to a number of undiagnosed cases. Patients should be followed up by OGTTat 24-26 weeks and 32-34 weeks of gestation.