ABSTRACT #46

Improving Postpartum Diabetes Screening Through Patient Education

Emily S. Markovic, Tirtza Spiegel Strauss, sophia Scarpelli Shchur, Lois Brustman

PURPOSE AND GOALS: To improve rates of postpartum diabetes screening in patients with recent pregnancy complicated by gestational diabetes

METHODS: All patients in our institution’s Diabetes in Pregnancy Program are counseled on postpartum screening at initial and final visits if delivery is anticipated. Patients with GDM that delivered in May 2022 were identified and contacted by phone to encourage postpartum screening.

EVALUATION PLAN: OGTT results were reviewed 1 month later.

SUMMARY OF RESULTS: 31 patients were identified with pregnancies complicated by GDM that delivered in May 2022. 25 patients were able to be reached by phone. Only 1 patient had undergone postpartum diabetes screening prior to the intervention. After the intervention, 3 additional patients had an OGTT performed. 50% of those with an OGTT performed postpartum (2 of 4) exhibited evidence of glucose intolerance. 27 patients (87%) did not have an OGTT performed despite the interventions performed.

REFLECTIVE CRITIQUE: This project attempted to determine if individualized counseling postpartum would improve rates of compliance with postpartum diabetes recommendations. While still a low rate of follow up, this intervention did improve follow up rate from 7% to 13% and may indicate that patients are amenable to screening if counseled postpartum.