A woman who had gestational diabetes mellitus delivers at term. When should she undergo a 75 g oral glucose tolerance test to reclassify her glycaemic status?
- A Within 24 hours of delivery
- B At 6 to 12 weeks postpartum using a 75 g OGTT ✓
- C At 4 to 6 weeks postpartum using fasting glucose only
- D At one year postpartum using HbA1c only
Correct answer: B. At 6 to 12 weeks postpartum using a 75 g OGTT
Explanation
All women with gestational diabetes should have a 75 g OGTT at 6 to 12 weeks postpartum, interpreted with non-pregnant criteria, to detect persistent diabetes or prediabetes. Testing within 24 hours reflects the physiological insulin resistance of pregnancy and lactational metabolic flux, giving unreliable results. Fasting glucose alone lacks sensitivity, and deferring to one year misses the period of highest progression risk, since up to half of affected women develop abnormal glucose tolerance within months of delivery.
Reference: Williams Obstetrics, 26th ed.
High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP
Written and medically reviewed by the StethoPrep medical team.