RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 Diabetes screening after gestational diabetes in England: a quantitative retrospective cohort study JF British Journal of General Practice JO Br J Gen Pract FD British Journal of General Practice SP e17 OP e23 DO 10.3399/bjgp14X676410 VO 64 IS 618 A1 Andrew McGovern A1 Lucilla Butler A1 Simon Jones A1 Jeremy van Vlymen A1 Khaled Sadek A1 Neil Munro A1 Helen Carr A1 Simon de Lusignan YR 2014 UL http://bjgp.org/content/64/618/e17.abstract AB Background The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) recommends postpartum and annual monitoring for diabetes for females who have had a diagnosis of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM).Aim To describe the current state of follow-up after GDM in primary care, in England.Design and setting A retrospective cohort study in 127 primary care practices. The total population analysed comprised 473 772 females, of whom 2016 had a diagnosis of GDM.Method Two subgroups of females were analysed using electronic general practice records. In the first group of females (n = 788) the quality of postpartum follow-up was assessed during a 6-month period. The quality of long-term annual follow-up was assessed in a second group of females (n = 718), over a 5-year period. The two outcome measures were blood glucose testing performed within 6 months postpartum (first group) and blood glucose testing performed annually (second group).Results Postpartum follow-up was performed in 146 (18.5%) females within 6 months of delivery. Annual rates of long-term follow-up stayed consistently around 20% a year. Publication of the Diabetes in Pregnancy NICE guidelines, in 2008, had no effect on long-term screening rates. Substantial regional differences were identified among rates of follow-up.Conclusion Monitoring of females after GDM is markedly suboptimal despite current recommendations.