Effectiveness of Prenatal Screening for Gestational Diabetes: A Narrative Review

Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is a common metabolic disorder of pregnancy associated with adverse maternal and neonatal outcomes.Despite its clinical importance, considerable variation remains in approaches to prenatal screening, including the timing, diagnostic strategy, and criteria used to identify affected pregnancies.The expansion of screening also raises concerns regarding unnecessary diagnosis, healthcare utilization, and patient burden.This narrative review of the available literature was conducted to examine different approaches to prenatal GDM screening.The review considered variations in screening timing, screening strategies, diagnostic thresholds, and their associations with maternal and neonatal outcomes.Particular attention was given to the clinical implications of identifying milder degrees of dysglycemia and to the economic and practical consequences of different screening approaches.This review concluded that prenatal GDM screening should aim to achieve clinically meaningful detection while minimizing unnecessary intervention and patient burden.Future research should focus on standardized outcomes, simplified and accessible screening approaches, and context-specific strategies that integrate clinical effectiveness, economic considerations, and healthcare resources.