A 31-year-old woman who is at high risk for diabetes is at 18 weeks' gestation. During her first antenatal visit, which is the accurate approach to evaluate the client for diabetes?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Current guidelines recommend screening for type 2 diabetes mellitus at the first antenatal visit for women at high risk of developing diabetes, including those with a previous history of gestational diabetes, overweight, obese, older than 25 years or have a family history of diabetes, among others. Early screening and detection of diabetes can improve pregnancy outcomes for both the mother and fetus. Serial testing of serum glucose and HbA1c can be done during subsequent visits, but screening should be done as early as possible. If diabetes is diagnosed, the type of diabetes should be determined based on the diagnostic criteria, which can help inform treatment decisions.

A 31-Year-Old Woman Who Is at High Risk for Diabetes