The importance of postpartum screening of diabetes in women with gestational diabetes

Background: Diabetes is a metabolic disease which is often asymptomatic at early stages and chronic increase in blood sugar causes damage to various organs. Gestational diabetes is one of the most common pregnancy problems and these women are at risk of type 2 diabetes. The risk of overt diabetes in women with gestational diabetes increases 7 times. The patients are also at risk of cardiovascular complications associated with dyslipidemia, hypertension and abdominal obesity (metabolic syndrome). According to costly complications caused by this disease, early diagnosis will prevent or postpone complications and disorders and also it is economically affordable. The Fifth Conference on Gestational Diabetes Workshop advised that women with gestational diabetes should be evaluated 6-12 weeks after delivery and then at specified times with 75-gram OGTT. So this study was conducted to show the importance of diabetes screening during postpartum period in women with gestational diabetes.Methods: This review study was conducted with information about the subject in resources and scientific sites.Result: Studies show that 30-70% of women with gestational diabetes have type 2 diabetes in the future and the risk of overt diabetes within 20 years after delivery is 50 percent. Despite recommendations, studies show that only 37 percent of women with gestational diabetes accomplish diabetes screening during postpartum period and most of them do not go for screening at all.Conclusion: Due to the fact that postpartum screening of diabetes is very important, it is recommended that test must be performed on all members of this group and women should be trained in this context.

کلیدواژه ها:

Postpartum ، Gestational diabetes ، Diabetes