Gestational Diabetes Screening in Lucknow

What Is the DIPSI Test?

DIPSI stands for Diabetes in Pregnancy Study Group India — the organization that developed this testing protocol specifically for screening and diagnosing gestational diabetes in Indian women.

It’s a single-sample, non-fasting oral glucose tolerance test. A pregnant woman is given 75g of glucose, and her blood glucose is measured exactly 2 hours later. There’s no need for an overnight fast or a second blood draw, which makes it far more practical than the traditional 2-step or 3-hour glucose tolerance tests.

Because of its simplicity and accuracy in the Indian population, the DIPSI test has been recommended by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India, as the preferred method for universal GDM screening across the country.

Why Is the DIPSI Test Done?

Gestational diabetes is high blood sugar that develops during pregnancy in women who didn’t have diabetes before. If left undiagnosed or unmanaged, it can lead to complications for both mother and baby.

Risks to the mother if GDM goes undetected:

• High blood pressure and pre-eclampsia
• Increased risk of a difficult or surgical delivery
• Higher lifetime risk of developing Type 2 diabetes

Risks to the baby:

• Excessive birth weight (macrosomia), leading to delivery complications
• Low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) right after birth
• Higher risk of obesity and diabetes later in life

Indian women are considered to be at a higher genetic risk of developing gestational diabetes compared to many other populations, which is why routine screening — regardless of prior risk factors — is strongly recommended.

Who Should Get This Test?

The DIPSI test is recommended as a universal screening test for all pregnant women in India, not just those with known risk factors. Ideally, it should be done:

• At the first antenatal visit, and
• Repeated at 24–28 weeks of pregnancy if the first test was normal

Women with the following risk factors should be especially diligent about screening:

• Family history of diabetes
• Obesity or excess weight gain in pregnancy
• History of GDM in a previous pregnancy
• PCOS (Polycystic Ovary Syndrome)
• Advanced maternal age (35+)
• Previous baby with high birth weight

Quick Test Overview

Parameter	Details
Sample type	Venous blood (plasma)
Glucose load	75g oral glucose
Fasting required	No — can be done fasting or non-fasting
Sample collection time	Exactly 2 hours after glucose intake
Report turnaround time	24–48 hours
Price	₹700
Home sample collection	Available

Preparation Before the Test

One of the biggest advantages of the DIPSI test is that it requires minimal preparation:

• No fasting required — the test can be done at any time of day, whether or not you’ve eaten
• Inform your lab technician or doctor about any current medications
• Wear clothing with sleeves that can be easily rolled up for the blood draw
• Carry your antenatal card or doctor’s prescription, if available
• Stay hydrated with plain water before arriving

There’s no need to alter your diet, skip meals, or plan around fasting hours — a key reason DIPSI is preferred over the older two-sample glucose tolerance test.

Test Procedure 

1. You’ll be given 75g of glucose dissolved in water to drink, regardless of whether you’ve eaten recently
2. A timer starts immediately after you finish the glucose drink
3. Exactly 2 hours later, a small venous blood sample is drawn from your arm
4. The sample is analyzed in the lab to measure plasma glucose levels
5. Your result is compared against standard DIPSI cut-off values to screen for GDM

During the Test 

• Total duration: approximately 2 hours of waiting, plus a few minutes for the blood draw
• You may experience mild, temporary symptoms after the glucose drink, such as:
  • A feeling of fullness or slight nausea
  • Mild dizziness or light-headedness
  • A brief energy spike followed by tiredness
• During the 2-hour wait: it’s best to sit or rest quietly, avoid eating or drinking anything other than plain water, and avoid strenuous physical activity, as this can affect your results

Understanding Your DIPSI Test Results

Result	2-Hour Plasma Glucose	Interpretation
Normal	Below 140 mg/dL	No gestational diabetes detected
Decreased glucose tolerance	120–140 mg/dL	Borderline; closer monitoring advised
Gestational Diabetes (GDM)	140 mg/dL or above	Diagnosis of GDM confirmed

If your result comes back abnormal, your gynecologist will guide you on next steps — this typically includes dietary changes, blood sugar monitoring, and in some cases, medication or insulin therapy to keep both you and your baby healthy through the rest of the pregnancy.

Note: DIPSI criteria are specifically calibrated for non-fasting, single-sample testing and may differ slightly from WHO or IADPSG glucose tolerance test standards, which use different protocols.

Post-Test Care

• You can eat and drink normally immediately after the blood draw — no restrictions
• No recovery time or downtime is needed; you can resume your normal activities right away
• Minor bruising at the puncture site is normal — applying a cold compress and avoiding heavy lifting with that arm for a few hours can help
• Reports are typically available within 24–48 hours
• If your result indicates GDM, schedule a follow-up with your gynecologist promptly to begin a management plan

Risks & Side Effects

The DIPSI test is very safe for both mother and baby. Risks are minimal and generally limited to:

• Slight bruising or soreness at the injection site
• Rare, brief light-headedness during the blood draw
• Temporary nausea or a sweet aftertaste from the glucose drink

There is no risk to the baby from the test itself, and it does not require any invasive procedures beyond a standard blood draw.

DIPSI Test vs Other Gestational Diabetes Tests

Feature	DIPSI	WHO OGTT	3-Hour GTT (Carpenter-Coustan)
Fasting required	No	Yes	Yes
Number of blood draws	1	2	4
Glucose load	75g	75g	100g
Total test duration	2 hours	2+ hours	3+ hours
Convenience	High	Moderate	Low

The DIPSI test’s single-sample, non-fasting protocol makes it significantly more convenient for routine screening, which is why it’s widely adopted across Indian antenatal care programs.

Why Choose Modern Pathology for Your DIPSI Test?

• Trusted since 1970 — decades of experience serving families in Lucknow
• NABL-accredited laboratory — ensuring accuracy and quality at every step
• Doorstep sample collection — skip the travel, especially important during pregnancy
• Reports in 24–48 hours — fast, reliable turnaround
• Experienced phlebotomists — trained in handling antenatal patients with care
• Transparent, affordable pricing — no hidden costs