Intermediate hyperglycemia in early pregnancy: A South Asian perspective

“Intermediate hyperglycemia in early pregnancy (IHEP)” refers to mild hyperglycemia detected before 24 gestational weeks (GW), satisfying the criteria for the diagnosis of gestational diabetes mellitus. Many professional bodies recommend routine screening for “overt diabetes” in early pregnancy, which identifies a significant number of women with mild hyperglycemia of undetermined significance. A literature search revealed that one-third of GDM women in South Asian countries are diagnosed before the conventional screening period of 24 GW to 28 GW; hence, they belong in the IHEP category. Most hospitals in this region diagnose IHEP by oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) using the same criteria used for GDM diagnosis after 24 GW. There is some evidence to suggest that South Asian women with IHEP are more prone to adverse pregnancy events than women with a diagnosis of GDM after 24 GW, but this observation needs to be proven by randomized control trials. Fasting plasma glucose is a reliable screening test for GDM that can obviate the need for OGTT for GDM diagnosis among 50% of South Asian pregnant women. HbA1c in the first trimester predicts GDM in later pregnancy, but it is not a reliable test for IHEP diagnosis. There is evidence to suggest that HbA1c in the first trimester is an independent risk factor for several adverse pregnancy events. Further research to identify the patho-genetic mechanisms behind the fetal and maternal effects of IHEP is strongly recommended.