To screen or not to screen for gestational diabetes mellitus - The clinical quagmire

Gestational diabetes mellitus is defined as carbohydrate intolerance of var iable severity first diagnosed during pregnancy. In the United States, scre ening for gestational diabetes mellitus consists of a 50-g oral glucose loa d, followed I hour later by a plasma glucose concentration. The past severa l years, however, have seen significant controversy as to whether or not un iversal screening of all pregnant women should be the standard of care. Thi s debate includes not only who should be screened, but also how that screen ing should be performed. This article reviews these key controversies regar ding screening for gestational diabetes.