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Normal pregnancy can be characterized as a state of increased insulin resistance that helps ensure a steady stream of glucose delivery to the developing fetus. Thus, both mild fasting hypoglycemia and postprandial hyperglycemia are physiologic. These metabolic changes are felt to be hormonally mediated with likely contributions from human placental lactogen, estrogen, and progesterone.

A. Gestational Diabetes Mellitus

Gestational diabetes mellitus is abnormal glucose tolerance in pregnancy and is generally believed to exaggerate the pregnancy-induced physiologic changes in carbohydrate metabolism. Alternatively, pregnancy may unmask an underlying propensity for glucose intolerance, which will be evident in the nonpregnant state at some future time if not in the immediate postpartum period. Indeed, at least 50% of women with gestational diabetes will have an overt diabetes diagnosis at some point in their lifetime. During pregnancy, the principal concern in women with gestational diabetes is excessive fetal growth, which can cause increased maternal and perinatal morbidity. Shoulder dystocia occurs more frequently in infants of mothers with diabetes because of fetal overgrowth and increased fat deposition on the shoulders. Cesarean delivery and preeclampsia are also significantly increased in women with diabetes, both gestational and overt.

All asymptomatic pregnant women should undergo laboratory screening for gestational diabetes after 24 weeks’ gestation. The diagnostic thresholds for glucose tolerance tests in pregnancy are not universally agreed upon, and importantly, adverse pregnancy outcomes appear to occur along a continuum of glucose intolerance even if the diagnosis of gestational diabetes is not formally assigned. A two-stage testing strategy is recommended by the ACOG, starting with a 50-g screening test offered to all pregnant women at 24–28 weeks’ gestation. If this test is abnormal, the diagnostic test is a 100-g oral glucose tolerance test (Table 21–4).

Table 21–4.Screening and diagnostic criteria for gestational diabetes mellitus.

Women ...

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