Early diabetes screening in obese women

Objective: To describe maternal characteristics related to early screening for diabetes in obese women and evaluate the benefits of early diabetes screening and diagnosis. Study design: Retrospective cohort of obese women (BMI ≥30 kg/m²) without pregestational diabetes who delivered a singleton gestation between 2011 and 2012. Maternal characteristics/demographics and maternal and neonatal outcomes were compared between women with early diabetes screening (<20 weeks) versus traditional screening. We additionally compared maternal and neonatal outcomes for women with an early versus traditional diabetes diagnosis. Results: Of the 504 eligible women, 135 (26.8%) had early diabetes screening. Obese women with early screening were older, had a higher BMI, were more likely to have hypertension and neonates admitted to the NICU. Of women with early screening, 31 (23%) were diagnosed early. Women with an early diagnosis of diabetes were more likely to require treatment with insulin (36% vs. 23%, p = 0.003). Women with an early diagnosis of diabetes were more likely to have neonates in the NICU (48% vs. 26%, p = 0.03). Conclusions: Early screening for diabetes was more common in older women with additional comorbidities. Obese women diagnosed via early screening were more likely to require medical treatment for diabetes, suggesting a value to early screening.