Maternity nurse must be aware that screening for Diabetes mellitus in pregnancy is done at

Correct option is C

Screening for gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is most accurately done between 24 to 28 weeks of gestation. At this stage, insulin resistance increases due to placental hormones, making it the ideal window for diagnosis. Testing too early may miss many cases, and too late may delay necessary interventions. Explanation of each option: • (a) 6 to 17 weeks – Screening this early is not routine unless the woman is high-risk (e.g., previous GDM, obesity). At this stage, insulin resistance is not usually significant. • (b) 18 to 23 weeks – Slightly early for standard screening; although some high-risk cases might be evaluated early, most GDM cases are not detectable yet. • (c) 24 to 28 weeks – Correct. This is the recommended time for GDM screening because insulin resistance naturally increases due to placental hormones like hPL (human placental lactogen). • (d) 29 to 32 weeks – This is considered late for initial screening. If GDM is diagnosed this late, there's less time for effective management and prevention of complications.