A PILOT-STUDY FOR THE SCREENING OF GESTATIONAL DIABETES-MELLITUS

A pilot study to screen gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) in one Hea lth Care District of the Umbria Region has been launched within the Um bria Diabetes Project. During the study period (I Jan.-31 Dec. 1992) 1 41 women underwent an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) with 100 g of glucose, between the 24-28 wk of pregnancy. The incidence of GDM and impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) was 5.6% and 2%, respectively. The in cidence of macrosomy was 28% for GDM and 8% amongst the nondiabetics ( ND). The incidence of complications in newborns was more frequent amon gst those born from diabetic mothers (42%) with respect to newborns of ND mothers (19%). Also the incidence of caesarian delivery was higher for GDM with respect to ND. The insulin response at 1 and 2 hr after OGTT tended to be higher in GDM than in ND. After identifying the scen arios for the screening of GDM existing in the Hospital of Assisi (stu dy site), the pilot study provided us with guidelines to plan a screen ing on a regional basis, and to confirm these figures with a larger sc ale evaluation.