GESTATIONAL DIABETES - POSTPARTUM GLUCOSE-TOLERANCE TESTING

OBJECTIVE: Our purpose was to determine the incidence of and evaluate risk factors for postpartum glucose intolerance among predominantly bl ack gestational diabetic women. STUDY DESIGN: One hundred forty-five g estational diabetics underwent a standard 2-hour glucose tolerance tes t in the early puerperium according to the criteria of the National Di abetes Data Group. RESULTS: Fourteen patients (10%) were diabetic and eight (5%) showed impaired glucose tolerance. Maternal age, race, or o besity did not predict abnormal postpartum glucose tolerance testing. The requirement of insulin for glucose control during gestation and ge stational age at diagnosis were significantly associated with abnormal postpartum glucose tolerance (p < 0.0001 and p = 0.012, respectively) . Multivariate analysis showed that only a requirement for insulin for glucose control was significant (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Pregnancies complicated by gestational diabetes are at increased risk of glucose i ntolerance during the early postpartum period. Abnormal glucose tolera nce occurs predominantly among those patients requiring insulin therap y during gestation or those diagnosed before 24 weeks' gestation.