An evaluation of the WHO criteria for abnormal glucose tolerance test during pregnancy in Nigerian women.

A 75 g oral glucose tolerance test was performed in 127 normal Nigerian women between 24 and 28 weeks of pregnancy. The glucose response at fasting, 1, 2 and 3 h were studied. At 2 h, the glucose level at 2-SD and 4-SD above the mean were less than the criteria of abnormality recommended by the World Health Organisation: 6.5 mmol/l vs. 8 mmol/l for impaired glucose tolerance and 8.0 mmol/l vs. 11.0 mmol/l for gestational diabetes mellitus. The area under the glucose response curve correlated best with the glucose levels at 2 h during the OGTT (y = 4.3 + 1.8x, r = 0.862). The 75-g OGTT interpreted with the WHO criteria appear not to be appropriate for use in pregnant women in Nigeria.