Concern rises for missed diabetes testing - that could mean TWO THIRDS of pregnant women are going undiagnosed By Meike Leonard Published: 23:02, 21 September 2024 | Updated: 23:28, 21 September 2024 e-mail View comments Two thirds of pregnant women could be going undiagnosed with a serious medical condition due to faulty screening, according to research. A study found that widely used tests for gestational diabetes – which causes high blood sugar and usually occurs in the second and third trimesters of pregnancy – only correctly identify 29 per cent of cases. If left untreated, the condition can cause pregnancy complications for both mother and baby – including an increased risk of both developing type II diabetes, babies growing larger than usual and premature birth.
Although rare, it can also cause babies to be stillborn. As a result, the NHS advises that women at risk of gestational diabetes be given a screening test called an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) in the third and forth month of pregnancy. A study found that widely used tests for gestational diabetes only correctly identify 29 per cent of cases.
(Stock photo) In the UK, as many as half of all obstetrics clinics rely on this casual test to first screen patients. (Stock photo) Due to the length of time and preparation involved in the test – which requires the mother to fast for ten hours and take two separate blood tests – the study found that a large fraction of healthcare facilities were first usin.