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New research · Endocrinology
Journal of perinatal medicine · 23h
Cohort studyJournal of perinatal medicine · 2026

Postpartum management of gestational diabetes - is blood glucose monitoring meaningful?

Magdalena Kittelmann, Julie Plankenhorn, Andreas Schoetzau … Olav Lapaire
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EndocrinologyCohort study

Postpartum blood glucose monitoring has a very low diagnostic yield for persistent hyperglycemia.

Postpartum management of gestational diabetes - is blood glucose monitoring meaningful?

Magdalena Kittelmann et al. · Journal of perinatal medicine · 2026
Purpose

This study aimed to evaluate the meaningfulness of postpartum blood glucose measurements in patients with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM).

Methods

We conducted a retrospective single-centre cohort study including 201 women with GDM, who delivered at our perinatal centre in 2024.

n = 201 women
Results
only 0.5% of blood sugar tests after birth found lasting high blood sugar
n = 201 women
More results

Almost all blood glucose levels normalised shortly after delivery.

Elevated blood glucose levels had no direct clinical consequences.

More results

There is a mild correlation between fasting plasma glucose on the first postpartum day and HbA 1c three months postpartum in patients with insulin-dependent GDM (iGDM), but no significant correlation was observed in patients with diet-controlled GDM (dGDM).

“
Conclusion · 1 of 2

Postpartum blood glucose profiles show low diagnostic efficiency and limited clinical value. Since there is no significant correlation with HbA 1c three months postpartum all patients should undergo long-term follow-up.

Conclusion · 2 of 2

The high dropout rate highlights the need to educate both healthcare providers and patients about the importance of long-term GDM follow-up.

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