Early Screening For Gestational Diabetes: Why Timely Detection Matters

Pregnancy is a complicated period for women, where their body goes through multiple changes. These changes make women prone to various diseases or conditions too, in certain unfortunate cases. One such condition is Gestational Diabetes. It is a condition that is characterised by an elevated level of blood glucose in women during pregnancy. Though it typically resolves after a child's birth, one still needs to be cautious and take safety measures to protect their health. Moreover, one must be aware that the early detection of Gestational Diabetes is crucial. If you want to know more about it, keep reading.

To get an expert view on this, we reached out to Dr Gagandeep Singh, MBBS, Founder – Redial Clinic, Specialist in Reversing Diabetes, Hypertension, Obesity & PCOS without Medication.

What Is Gestational Diabetes?

Before taking a deep dive into the story, let us understand what Gestational Diabetes is.

“Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (GDM) is a metabolic condition characterised by glucose intolerance first recognised during pregnancy. It typically develops in the second or third trimester when placental hormones create insulin resistance that overwhelms the mother's ability to produce sufficient insulin,” shares Dr Singh.

He continues, “What many don't realise is that GDM isn't merely a pregnancy inconvenience — it's a window into underlying metabolic health. One recent research (from Pune Maternal Nutrition Study) published in Diabetologia reveals that women with GDM often show elevated glycemic patterns, dating back to childhood, suggesting pregnancy hyperglycemia frequently reflects a pre-existing metabolic trajectory rather than a completely new phenomenon.”

Dr Singh adds that in his clinical practice, he has witnessed that GDM is increasingly common among younger Indian women with sedentary lifestyles and high-glycemic diets — even those who appear otherwise healthy and aren't overweight.

How To Detect Gestational Diabetes

But how can one detect Gestational Diabetes? Our expert answers.

“The standard approach is the Oral Glucose Tolerance Test (OGTT) at 24-28 weeks gestation. GDM is diagnosed when fasting glucose exceeds 92 mg/dL, one-hour values exceed 180 mg/dL, or two-hour values exceed 153 mg/dL,” shares Dr Singh.

He adds that the landmark STRiDE study across South Indian antenatal clinics demonstrates that early screening before 16 weeks can identify ‘early GDM’— with prevalence reaching 21.5% in Indian women.

Why Early Detection Of Gestational Diabetes Is Important

Early detection of diseases is believed to be a blessing in disguise. This is because it helps in timely treatment. The same goes for Gestational Diabetes. Our expert explains why.

Dr Singh shares, “Standard 24-28 week screening means metabolic dysfunction may have already affected fetal development for weeks. Early detection enables prompt dietary modifications and lifestyle interventions, potentially preventing fetal macrosomia, reducing cesarean rates, and minimising long-term metabolic programming effects on the baby. Women receiving early diagnosis show markedly better glycemic control throughout pregnancy compared to those diagnosed at the standard window.”

Also Read: Why Prospective Parents With Diabetes Need To Plan Ahead? IVF & Fertility Specialist Answered

Causes And Symptoms Of Gestational Diabetes

“GDM develops when pancreatic beta-cells cannot compensate for pregnancy-induced insulin resistance caused by placental hormones,” shares Dr Singh. On this note, the expert shares that the key risk factors include:

• Maternal age above 35 years (1.5-fold increased risk).
• Obesity (85% higher risk).
• Family history of diabetes.
• PCOS.
• Genetic variants like TCF7L2 and FTO genes are linked to elevated GDM risk in Asian populations.

Shedding light on Gestational Diabetes’ Symptoms, Dr Singh shares, “This is where GDM becomes insidious — most women experience no obvious symptoms. It's largely a ‘silent’ condition. When symptoms occur, they include increased thirst, frequent urination, fatigue, and recurrent infections — all easily dismissed as normal pregnancy discomforts. The asymptomatic nature reinforces why universal screening is essential. We cannot rely on symptoms for detection — proactive testing is the only reliable approach.”

How Does Gestational Diabetes Affect the Baby?

One question that is often being asked is – can GDM affect the baby? Dr Singh explains the risks, divided in two different categories:

Immediate Risks: Macrosomia (large baby) is the most common complication. Excess maternal glucose crosses the placenta, triggering fetal insulin overproduction and excessive fat deposition. This increases birth trauma risk, emergency cesareans, and neonatal hypoglycemia when the baby's overactive insulin system suddenly loses maternal glucose supply.

Long-term Consequences: More concerning are intergenerational effects. Children exposed to GDM face significantly elevated lifetime risks of obesity, earlier-onset type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and metabolic syndrome.

“This creates a troubling cycle where GDM in one generation predisposes the next to metabolic disease. Breaking this cycle through effective management is a public health imperative,” adds the expert.

How To Prevent And Treat Gestational Diabetes?

Gestational Diabetes can be prevented, as well as treated. Speaking about its prevention, Dr Singh shares, “Ideally it begins before conception. Women with risk factors should undergo metabolic optimization 3-6 months before planned pregnancy — achieving healthy weight, establishing low-glycemic dietary patterns, and maintaining regular physical activity.”

Shedding light on its treatment, the expert explains, “Medical Nutrition Therapy is the cornerstone — distributing carbohydrates evenly, emphasising low-glycemic foods, including protein with each meal, and eliminating processed sugars. Regular moderate exercise (30 minutes daily walking) significantly improves glucose utilisation.”

He adds, “Self-monitoring helps women understand individual food responses. When lifestyle modifications prove insufficient after two weeks, pharmacological intervention — primarily insulin — becomes necessary.”

“Postpartum OGTT at 6-12 weeks, continued lifestyle optimisation, and breastfeeding are essential. GDM isn't just a condition to survive, it's a critical opportunity to address metabolic health benefiting both mother and child for decades,” concludes Dr Singh.

Also Read: Is Your Lifestyle Raising Your Gestational Diabetes Risk? Find Out Here

The Final Word

Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (GDM) is a metabolic condition characterised by glucose intolerance, first recognised during pregnancy. It typically develops in the second or third trimester. With proper lifestyle modifications and treatment, women can overcome and treat GDM effectively.