Risk factors associated with persistence of glucose intolerance one year after gestational diabetes.

One hundred and fourteen women, 89 with previous gestational diabetes and 25 who showed a normal glucose tolerance during pregnancy were retested by OGTT one year postpartum. Gestational diabetics were divided into two groups according to the severity of glucose intolerance. 97.6% of mild gestational diabetics and 79.2% of severe cases returned to normality postpartum. A different behaviour of these groups was shown by comparing OGTT areas before and after delivery. Body Mass Index and the degree of severity of glucose intolerance were shown to be predictive for the persistence of the abnormality postpartum. Follow-up for three to four years was continued in 8 cases of previous severe gestational diabetes. In seven of them a glucose intolerance appeared again during the follow-up after the temporary improvement one year after delivery.