Relationship between environmental temperature and the diagnosis and treatment of gestational diabetes mellitus: An observational retrospective study

Environmental temperature has been described to affect plasma glucose levels after oral glucose tolerance testing (OGTT). We evaluated the relationship between seasons and environmental temperature and gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) diagnosis and treatment. We analyzed data from 2374 women retrospectively. GDM was diagnosed in 473 patients by a 100-g OGTT. OGTT results and needing of insulin therapy were evaluated in relation to seasons and environmental temperature (mean temperature and temperature change) the day of the OGTT and the preceding 14 and 28 days. We found significant seasonal differences in the percentage of GDM: 24.4% in summer vs. 15.6% in autumn (p