Comparative study of fasting plasma glucose concentration and glucose challenge test for screening gestational diabetes mellitus

Background: To compare the sensitivity and specificity of fasting plasma glucose (FPG) with that of standard glucose challenge test (GCT). Materials and methods: Eighty-nine eligible pregnant women underwent GCT between 24th and 28th gestational week, followed by a diagnostic 3 hours 100 gm oral glucose tolerance test within 1 week. Out patient clinic in Father Muller Medical College Hospital, Mangalore. Data was analyzed for significance by chi-square test. Results: Fasting plasma glucose concentration at a threshold value of 90 mg/dl and GCT at recommended standard threshold of 140 mg/dl yielded sensitivities of 66.7% and 100% respectively and specificities of 87.3% and 46.5% respectively. Reducing the threshold value of FPG to 80 mg/dl increased the sensitivity of test to 91.7% with specificity of 54.9% which was comparable to standard GCT, in our study. Conclusion: Measuring FPG concentration using a cut-off of ≥ 80 mg/dl is an easier, tolerable and more cost effective procedure than GCT for detecting more severe cases of GDM, i.e. the diabetes mellitus group. In resource poor settings with population belonging to average risk or high risk category, FPG at a cut-off of 90 mg/dl can be used to screen GDM.