We investigated the usefulness of a single value of maternal HbA1c in late pregnancy as a predictor
for neonatal hypoglycaemia and secondly, to fi nd the appropriate threshold value. A prospective
analysis of the HbA1c concentration between 36 to 38 weeks of gestation in 150 pregnant mothers
with either pre-existing or gestational diabetes was performed. At delivery, glucose levels in the
cord blood were analysed. Neonatal hypoglycaemia was defi ned as a blood sugar level of < 2.6
mmol/l. Receiver operator characteristic curve was constructed to evaluate the value of HbA1c
concentration in predicting hypoglycaemia. There were 16 foetuses who were hypoglycaemic at
delivery. The area under the ROC curve for predicting neonatal hypoglycaemia was 0.997 with a
95% confi dence interval of 0.992 to 1, a very good prediction rate. The optimal threshold value for
HbA1c in predicting hypoglycaemia in the foetus was 6.8% (51 mmol/mol). HbA1c level in late
pregnancy is a good predictor for hypoglycaemia in the newborn.