Antenatal medicine: diabetes screening: practice question

A OBG question in the style of the NEET PG paper. Answer it first, then read why the right option is right and why each of the others is wrong.

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OBG · Antenatal medicine: diabetes screening

Sample item

Why is gestational diabetes screening typically performed in mid-pregnancy rather than the first trimester for average-risk patients?

Original practice item, not a recalled exam question. Nothing here is recorded.

The answer and the reasoning

D. Placental hormones increase insulin resistance later in pregnancy

Placental hormones progressively increase insulin resistance in the second and third trimesters, revealing limited maternal beta-cell reserve. High-risk patients may be tested earlier for preexisting diabetes.

Option by option

  • A. Gestational diabetes cannot occur before 20 weeks

    Early testing may be appropriate for high-risk patients.

  • B. Fetal insulin is absent before 24 weeks

    Fetal insulin is not the reason for maternal screening timing.

  • C. Insulin sensitivity is maximal in late pregnancy

    Insulin sensitivity generally decreases rather than increases later in pregnancy.

  • D. Placental hormones increase insulin resistance later in pregnancy (correct)

    Correct. Rising placental hormone effect drives later gestational insulin resistance.

Source note: Original NextPrep sample item — pending expert review. This item is original practice material awaiting independent expert review, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.

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Questions about this OBG question

What is the answer to this OBG question?

The best answer is D, Placental hormones increase insulin resistance later in pregnancy. Placental hormones progressively increase insulin resistance in the second and third trimesters, revealing limited maternal beta-cell reserve.

Why is "Gestational diabetes cannot occur before 20 weeks" not the answer?

Early testing may be appropriate for high-risk patients.

Why is "Fetal insulin is absent before 24 weeks" not the answer?

Fetal insulin is not the reason for maternal screening timing.

Why is "Insulin sensitivity is maximal in late pregnancy" not the answer?

Insulin sensitivity generally decreases rather than increases later in pregnancy.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Antenatal medicine: diabetes screening in OBG. High-risk patients may be tested earlier for preexisting diabetes.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as an application question: it asks you to use a fact on a patient or a finding. The tag is our own editorial judgement, not an official difficulty rating, so read the reason for every option, not only the answer.

How should I study Antenatal medicine: diabetes screening?

Learn management algorithms as steps: PPH, eclampsia, ectopic pregnancy. Then use the flashcards and the other OBG questions on this site to test what stuck.

Is this a real NEET PG question?

No. It is an original practice item (editorial status: sample, version 1). NextPrep does not publish recalled or leaked questions, and independent faculty review of this item has not been completed yet, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.