How do gestational diabetes (GDM) test results compare: India, WHO and the US?
In short
- Countries test for gestational diabetes in different ways.
- So the number that counts as "high" depends on which test you had.
- India uses one blood test, 2 hours after a glucose drink. WHO and US methods differ.
- Your doctor will tell you which test you had, and what your result means.
What happens
- Ask your doctor or your antenatal card which test you were given — India's single-step test, or a different fasting or two-step test.
- Compare your result only against the cut-off for that same test method, not a number from a different system.
The details: numbers and where they differ
Why the numbers don't match across countries
India's DIPSI method was designed to be quick and practical for large-scale public screening: one glucose drink, no fasting required, one blood draw. WHO's criteria (based on the IADPSG consensus) instead ask for a fasting blood draw first, then two more after the glucose drink, with any one of three thresholds being enough for a diagnosis. US obstetric practice commonly uses a two-step approach: a shorter screening drink first, and only if that's high, a longer, more detailed fasting test to confirm it. Each method was built around different trade-offs between accuracy, cost and how practical it is to run at scale, which is why the pass/fail numbers aren't interchangeable.
In the source's own words
Single step testing using 75 gm oral glucose & measuring blood sugar 2 hours after ingestion. 75 gm glucose is to be given orally after dissolving in approximately 300 ml water whether the pregnant women comes in fasting or non-fasting state, irrespective of the last meal. The intake of the solution has to be completed within 5-10 minutes. ... The threshold blood sugar level of ≥140 mg/dL (more than or equal to 140) is taken as cut off for diagnosis of GDM.
Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Govt of India (National Health Mission), Diagnosis & Management of Gestational Diabetes Mellitus — Technical and Operational Guidelines (2018). Quoted verbatim.
The numbers
| Measure | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 75g OGTT, 2-hour blood sugar (India's single-step test) (pregnant women, any trimester, fasting or non-fasting, India) | ≥140 mg/dL | Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Govt of India (National Health Mission) |
| 75g OGTT fasting plasma glucose (pregnant women (WHO 2013 / IADPSG-based criteria)) | 5.1–6.9 mmol/L (92–125 mg/dL) | World Health Organization (WHO) |
| 75g OGTT, 1-hour plasma glucose (pregnant women (WHO 2013 / IADPSG-based criteria)) | ≥10.0 mmol/L (180 mg/dL) | World Health Organization (WHO) |
| 75g OGTT, 2-hour plasma glucose (pregnant women (WHO 2013 / IADPSG-based criteria)) | 8.5–11.0 mmol/L (153–199 mg/dL) | World Health Organization (WHO) |
Where sources disagree
Which GDM test and cut-off apply to you
Sources differ here — shown side by side, not blended into one number.
India (MoHFW/DIPSI, 2018 guideline)
One non-fasting 75g glucose drink; a single blood-sugar reading 2 hours later of 140 mg/dL or higher means gestational diabetes. Chosen for practicality in large-scale public screening.
Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Govt of India (National Health Mission)
WHO 2013 criteria (IADPSG-based)
A fasting 75g OGTT with three separate cut-offs (fasting, 1-hour and 2-hour); meeting or exceeding any one of them is enough for a diagnosis. These thresholds are lower than India's single non-fasting cut-off.
US practice (ACOG)
Commonly uses a two-step approach: a first screening test around 24 to 28 weeks (or earlier if you have risk factors), followed by a longer diagnostic test only if the first one is high. ACOG's own numeric cut-offs for this two-step test aren't quoted on this page — ask your provider for the exact figures used at your lab.
When to call your doctor
- If you're not sure which test you were given or what your result means.
- If your result was flagged as high and you don't have a follow-up plan.
Discuss your results with your doctor: this page reports what these sources say, not advice for your situation.
Sources
- Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Govt of India (National Health Mission), Diagnosis & Management of Gestational Diabetes Mellitus — Technical and Operational Guidelines (2018), 2018. Quoted verbatim. © Govt of India; page 4 grants free reproduction/quotation with attribution.
- World Health Organization (WHO), Diagnostic Criteria and Classification of Hyperglycaemia First Detected in Pregnancy (WHO/NMH/MND/13.2, 2013), 2013. Paraphrased in our own words. CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO (WHO), non-commercial.
- American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), Gestational Diabetes (Patient FAQ). Named as the guideline this section describes; its text and tables are not reproduced here (All rights reserved (cite only)). Describes a risk-based screening window (early in pregnancy if you have risk factors, otherwise between 24 and 28 weeks) as common US practice; its own numeric thresholds for the two-step test are not reproduced here.
Sources checked 2026-09-26. How we source and check every page.
Educational summary of named sources, not medical advice.