Advantages of Screening for Glucose Tolerance in the Sequential Weeks of Gestation

Abstract

Prelife exposure relates to development during the time preceding the first appearance of life, a time course from “conception to confinement.” From single cell zygote to finally formed fetus at confinement, a remarkable change occurs due to maternal fuels and hormonal influence on the fetal development. The crucial period in the fetal development is the first trimester. Early exposure to aberrant maternal metabolism in the embryonic developmental stage would result in congenital malformation and fetal wastage. Maintaining maternal glucose at the recommended level of fasting 80 to 90 mg and 2 hours postprandial plasma glucose 110 to 120 mg/dL during preconceptional period and throughout pregnancy is the assurance for the healthy offspring with ideal birth weight of 2.5 to 3.5 kg and prevention of noncommunicable diseases in the future.