Eureka! Institutional Repository

ABSTRACT Aim: Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is associated with a high risk of future type 2 diabetes. Multiple clinical guidelines highlighting the importance of postpartum blood glucose screening in this high-risk population. Despite this, postpartum follow-up rates for females diagnosed with GDM have generally been low across many European countries, Canada, and the US. The purpose of this study was to investigate the current state of follow-up of women with GDM in Makedonia. Methods: Women with GDM who delivered at a tertiary university hospital from 2010 to 2016 were interviewed retrospectively by telephone through a questionnaire about their blood glucose screening. Results: A total of 106 women were interviewed. Most women with GDM (62,3%) are not screened for type 2 diabetes after delivery. The main reasons for failed blood glucose screening included the believing that it was not so important and that GDM would disappear after delivery. Methods for GDM screening included testing of random blood glucose levels, fasting blood glucose levels and oral glucose tolerance test. Importantly, 16,7% of recruited women were not being informed by their physicians. Conclusions: Monitoring of females after GDM is markedly suboptimal despite current recommendations. Standard clinical procedures that will enable and encourage all women to return for glucose screening following GDM are needed. Future directions for intervention research are suggested.