Diabetes Prevention in Women With a Recent History of Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (GDM)
Condition: Gestational Diabetes Mellitus
MeSH terms: Diabetes, Gestational; Diabetes Mellitus
Study type: Interventional
Phase: Phase 2

Summary: 
      Many studies have shown that women with a history of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) have
      an increased risk of developing diabetes later in life. The purpose of the study is to test
      whether a web-based lifestyle intervention program adapted from the NIH sponsored Diabetes
      Prevention Program (DPP), modified specifically for women with a recent history of GDM,
      incorporating advice about diet and physical activity, delivered in the first 12 months after
      delivery will help women lose weight, improve overall health, and decrease their risk factors
      for type 2 diabetes.
    

Detailed description: 
      The landmark Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP) demonstrated that intensive lifestyle
      intervention in people with impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) could reduce the incidence of
      type 2 diabetes (Knowler, Barrett-Connor et al. 2002). These findings were consistent,
      regardless of ethnicity, age, body mass index (BMI), gender (Knowler, Barrett-Connor et al.
      2002). However, the DPP lacks a specific focus on new mothers with a recent history of
      gestational diabetes despite their documented high risk for developing Type 2 diabetes.
      Although there are recommendations that all women with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM)
      receive postpartum testing for diabetes and type 2 diabetes risk reduction, study findings
      suggest that women with a recent history of GDM may be unaware of their risk for future
      diabetes, and also do not take steps to reduce their risks (Kim et al., 2007). The postpartum
      period is also a time when many changes occur in a woman's life, with competing
      responsibilities often altering sleep patterns, work schedules, eating patterns, exercise
      regularity, and time allocation (Walker, 1999; Swan et al., 2007). New mothers may have
      difficulties engaging in healthy lifestyle programs because of lack of time and energy, and
      because of competing work and family demands, including child care (Swan, Kilmartin, and
      Liaw, 2007).

      Modeled around the barriers identified in literature and gleaned from the focus groups and
      informant interviews of the preliminary study (2009p-000042), we have created a
      lifestyle/behavioral intervention that utilizes a modified DPP.
    

Intervention name(s): Balance after Baby Lifestyle Intervention Program
Intervention type(s): Behavioral
Intervention description(s): Participants in this intervention will receive support from a lifestyle coach and gain access to a website with online presentations that contain healthy eating and physical activity educational tips. Weekly phone conversations with the lifestyle coach, as well as logging diet and physical activity will also be required of intervention participants.
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: Single (Investigator)
Primary purpose: Prevention
Keywords: Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) in the most recent pregnancy