Postpartum diabetes screening after gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) remains below optimal levels in the United States. A cross-sectional population-based analysis published in Diabetic Medicine evaluated temporal trends and factors associated with screening uptake using national surveillance data.

The analysis included 21,559 individuals with self-reported GDM from the Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS) between 2016 and 2022. All participants attended a postpartum visit and reported screening status. Weighted prevalence estimates were calculated, and multivariable modified Poisson regression assessed associations between social and clinical factors and screening uptake, expressed as adjusted prevalence ratios with 95% confidence intervals.

The overall screening prevalence was 55.8% (95% CI 54.8–56.9). Rates increased from 55.6% in 2016 to 60.3% in 2019, declined to 52.6% in 2020, and then rose to 55.8% in 2022. Screening was more common among individuals aged 30 years or older, those from racial or ethnic minoritized groups, individuals without a high school diploma, those with public prenatal insurance, pre-pregnancy overweight or obesity, and those receiving adequate prenatal care. Lower screening rates were observed among individuals with a prior live birth, preterm birth, and those residing in rural areas, the Southern United States, or U.S. Territories.

Postpartum screening is recommended after GDM to identify future diabetes risk. These findings show that screening uptake remains suboptimal, with variation across population groups, indicating missed opportunities for early cardiometabolic risk detection.