Low Glucose at 3-Hour 100 Gram Oral Glucose Tolerance Test: Implications
for Glucose Control in Gestational Diabetes
Abstract
Objective: To assess the clinical significance of a low 180-minute
glucose value in a 100gr oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) and a single
high abnormal value. Design: A retrospective cohort study. Setting: A
single outpatient health clinic. Population: Women with one abnormal
high OGTT glucose value. The study group included women with 180-minute
plasma glucose levels of ≤60 mg/dl and one abnormal value in the OGTT.
The control group was comprised of women with one abnormal value in the
OGTT and normal 180-minute glucose value. Methods: Pregnancy related
outcomes and level of glycemic control of both groups were compared.
Main outcome measures: The primary outcome was glycemic control, defined
as fasting blood glucose measurements>90 mg/dl or
post-prandial glucose values >140 mg/dl or 120 md/dl
(1-hour and 2-hour post-prandial, respectively) in>30% of
the measurements. Secondary outcomes were the rate of insulin treatment
and the perinatal outcome consisting of birthweight,
large-for-gestational-age and polyhydramnios. Results: 301 women were
included, of them, 143 in the study group and 158 in the control group.
Pre-pregnancy body mass index, first trimester fasting glucose levels,
previous gestational diabetes mellitus, and familial diabetes were
similar for both groups. Suboptimal glycemic control was more prevalent
among the women in the study group (14% vs. 5.1%, respectively,
P=0.01). The need for insulin treatment was similar in both groups
(9.8% vs. 4.4%, P=.1). Conclusion: Women with one abnormal value and a
180-minute hypoglycemia in the OGTT are at increased risk for suboptimal
glycemic control.