[A glucose tolerance study in the 12 months postpartum in patients with gestational diabetes].

BACKGROUND

It has been reported that patients with gestational diabetes have a considerable long term risk of developing diabetes mellitus.

METHOD

Glucose tolerance was studied in the 12 months following birth in 155 patients diagnosed by the authors as having gestational diabetes and followed during pregnancy.

RESULTS

It was observed that in 48% of the patients alterations persisted (33% glucose intolerance and 15% diabetes mellitus). Glucose tolerance during gestation and the perinatal results were retrospectively analyzed with a relation with the postpartum reclassification being observed.

CONCLUSIONS

It was estimated that the percentage of alterations in glucose tolerance persisting postpartum is extremely high, suggesting the need for this test with a double objective: the reclassification of gestational diabetes and the early detection of glucose intolerance and diabetes mellitus.