Gestational Diabetes in Melanesia and Appropriateness of Current Screening and Diagnostic Tests
- Author:
Tope Adepoyibi
1
;
Heather Gidding
2
;
Richard Taylor
2
;
Ben Coghlan
1
Author Information
1. Burnet Institute, Melbourne
2. School of Public Health and Community Medicine, NSW
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
Gestational diabetes;
Diagnosis;
Tests;
Melanesia;
Papua New Guinea;
Solomon Islands;
Fiji;
Vanuatu
- From:
Fiji Medical Journal
2024;24(4):138-142
- CountryFiji
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
Abstract:In low-resource settings such as Melanesia, gestational diabetes often goes undiagnosed due to many factors, including the unsuitability of current tests. Ideally a gestational diabetes test for low-resource settings should meet criteria related to acceptability, test performance and operational characteristics, with minimal impositions on individual patients or the wider health system. None of the six tests recommended in country-specific gestational diabetes guidelines in Melanesia (2-hour oral glucose tolerance test, glucose challenge test, fasting plasma glucose, random plasma glucose, 2-hour postprandial glucose and glycated haemoglobin) meet criteria related to these attributes. Additionally, each Melanesian country has different, complex algorithms that use multiple tests in different combinations. With a high and increasing burden of diabetes mellitus (and therefore assumed gestational diabetes), Melanesian health practitioners and policymakers should be aware of the limitations of recommended tests for gestational diabetes and be open to alternative technologies that may be more appropriate.
- Full text:FMJ 2024 v24 n01 138 - 142 - GDM in Melanesia and Tests.pdf
