Gestational Diabetes Mellitus: Implications for Pre-Screening and Type II Diabetes

Gestational Diabetes Mellitus

Implications for Pre-Screening in Type II

Screening of patients for the condition of "gestational diabetes mellitus" is considered to be an extravagance from the perspective of Lepercq (2004) who considered Universal Screening to be "contentious." However due to the 6.4% mortality rate due to untreated diabetes mellitus as well as the know birth defects and maternal health effects there are those who consider pre-screening for GDM to be vital in terms of the health of the expected mother and expected child. There exist implications for the lack of prescreening in terms of ethical responsibility as well as in terms of costs realized in universal screening. Systemic study of this subject is necessary in understanding what the best practice in pre-screening actually is.

Gestational Diabetes Mellitus

Implications for Pre-Screening in Type II

- Type 1 and Type 2

Statement of Thesis:

Screening of patients for gestational diabetes mellitus stated to be "contentious" Lepercq (2004) however it is an excellent method for detection of type 2 gestational diabetes mellitus which is a condition with serious implications of adverse effects upon both the maternal and fetal health.

Chapter One

Introduction:

Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is a condition characterized by glucose intolerance...

Nutritional intervention is the best management solution for the condition of GDM which incidentally is one of the most common complications in pregnancy in terms of medical complications. However, lack of treatment places both mother and child at risk screening for GDM is the current practice in medicine. There is a stated 6.4% mortality rate for untreated GDM in pregnancies of women over the age of 25 years old compared to the rate of 1.5% in women with normal glucose tolerance. This condition is one that develops as a result of the woman's pancreases failing to produce enough insulin for her needs.
Brief Historical Overview of GDM Screening:

In the review entitled "Screening for Gestational Diabetes Mellitus" stated is that: "Consideration has been given to the existing screening practices for GDM, including universal screening, risk factor-based screening, and the option of not screening for GDM." Berger (2003) The outcome of this study stated that "The short- and long-term maternal -fetal outcomes in GDM were reviewed with emphasis given to examination of the data regarding the effect of diagnosis and treatment of GDM on these outcomes." Recommendations of the study state that "A single approach of testing for GDM cannot be recommended at the present time" because stated the study, "there is not enough evidence-based data proving the beneficial effect of a large screening program." Berger (2003)

Diagnostic criteria…