Comparing daily versus less frequent blood glucose monitoring in patients with mild gestational diabetes

Abstract

Objective: The prevalence of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is increasing. This study was designed to determine if different frequencies in blood glucose (BG) monitoring, without regard to other variables, would allow timely detection of hyperglycemia requiring pharmacologic treatment in mild GDMs.Methods: Retrospective chart review, limited to self-glucose monitoring values, of 120 mild GDM patients who required pharmacologic therapy. Three data sets were constructed from each patient’s BG log: (1) all available BG; (2) every other day’s BG blocked; (3) only every third day’s BG available for review. The blocked BG datasets were compared with daily values.Results: 95% and 97% of subjects were started on pharmacologic therapy before or within 7 d of the reference date using every other day and every third day BG logs, respectively.Conclusions: Based exclusively on BG values, without regard to other clinical information, every other day or every third day BG monitoring in mild GDM does not delay the initiation of pharmacologic therapy.