The Australasian Diabetes in Pregnancy Society (ADIPS) has released their latest consensus recommendations for the screening, diagnosis and classification of gestational diabetes (GDM), the changes aim to focus care where it is needed the most.
Under the new guidelines, GDM is diagnosed if any one of the following criteria is met during a glucose tolerance test:
- Fasting plasma glucose (FPG): 5.3–6.9 mmol/L
- 1-hour plasma glucose (1hPG): ≥10.6 mmol/L
- 2-hour plasma glucose (2hPG): 9.0–11.0 mmol/L
All pregnant women are still recommended to undergo a 75g two‐hour pregnancy oral glucose tolerance test (POGTT) screening between 24-28 weeks of pregnancy.
The updated diagnostic criteria aim to better focus care on women and babies at higher risk of complications, while minimising unnecessary interventions for those at lower risk. These changes are also intended to ease the burden on healthcare providers and services.
Implementation will take place over the coming months, and health professionals are encouraged to begin discussing the upcoming changes with pregnant women in their care.
