Diabetes in pregnancy (gestational diabetes) is becoming more common. It can lead to problems for both mothers-to-be and their babies such as causing a large baby and difficult birth. Gestational diabetes in the mother may also lead to effects on the long term health of the baby. Most people today use mobile phones. Our research is looking at using a mobile phone app to help with diabetes care in pregnancy. In particular, the investigators are using phones which connect to the standard blood glucose monitoring machines given to all women with gestational diabetes to see if sending the hospital team blood test results between clinic appointments can result in the need for fewer clinic visits. The investigators are also testing to see how acceptable using mobile phones in this way, is to our patients and that the control of the blood glucose and outcomes for the mother and baby are at least as good as standard care. The investigators are planning to recruit 200 women who receive care for their gestational diabetes at the Oxford University Hospitals NHS (National Health Service) Trust. They will be randomised so that 100 will receive standard care, and 100 will have a mobile phone "app" linked to the blood glucose machines to send blood glucose readings directly to the diabetes care team to review. Both groups will be asked to test their blood glucose levels at home regularly with a glucometer. All participants will also be given lifestyle advice to reduce the chance they will need medication. Blood glucose control will be measured also by the percentage of glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) at the time of diagnosis of gestational diabetes and before delivery.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
HEALTH_SERVICES_RESEARCH
Masking
SINGLE
Enrollment
203
Fingerprick testing of blood glucose levels before and 2 hours after meals
John Radcliffe Hospital
Oxford, Oxfordshire, United Kingdom
Glycosylated haemogloblin
Glycosylated haemoglobin (HbA1C) will be measured at the time of recruitment (around 28 weeks gestation) and at 36 weeks gestation. This will be approximately 8 weeks after recruitment (time 0).
Time frame: 8 weeks from recruitment at 28 weeks gestation to 36 weeks gestation
Mean Blood glucose levels for fasting, pre-prandial and post-prandial readings
Mean blood glucose levels for all readings measured fasting, pre-prandial and post prandial will be calculated over the 10 week participation in the trial (from recruitment at 28 weeks gestation to delivery at 38 weeks gestation).
Time frame: 10 weeks (from 28 weeks gestation to 38 weeks gestation)
Percentage of 'on target' blood glucose readings
Fasting readings as defined \>=3.5 and \<=5.8 mmol/L and post prandial readings \>= 3.5 and \<= 7.7 mmol/L for the first four weeks after randomisation and the second four weeks after randomisation
Time frame: 8 weeks (from recruitment at 28 weeks gestation to 36 weeks gestation)
Effectiveness of monitoring
Time to first trigger point (intensive dietary and lifestyle advice and increase monitoring to 7 days home per week) Time to second trigger point (insulin or metformin therapy) Time to treatment Number of changes to hypoglycaemics Maximum dose of insulin and metformin
Time frame: 10 weeks (from 28 weeks gestation to 38 weeks gestation)
Maternal outcomes
Perineal trauma (defined as third or fourth degree tear), pregnancy induced hypertension and preeclampsia, admission to higher level of care for mother. This will be measured up to 7 days post delivery (if birth is at 38 weeks, this will be 11 weeks after trial recruitment, unless birth occurs earlier)
Time frame: Approximately 11 weeks after recruitment
Maternal weight gain,
Weight gain in kilograms from trial recruitment until last antenatal visit prior to delivery
Time frame: 10 weeks (from 28 weeks gestation to 38 weeks gestation)
Birthweight
Z score of weight in kilograms for gestational age at delivery and Birthweight greater than 4.5kg
Time frame: At birth (approximately 10 weeks after trial recruitment)
Birth injury
Fracture of clavicle or humerus or other injury attributed to difficult birth, such as Erbs palsy or skull fracture
Time frame: At birth (approximately 10 weeks after trial recruitment)
Neonatal hypoglycaemia
Documented blood glucose level \<2.5mmol/L or requiring parenteral feeding within the first 48 hours of life after birth at around 38 weeks gestation (birth at approximately 10 weeks following trial recruitment and blood glucose monitoring in the neonate up to 48 hours after this)
Time frame: Approximately 10.5 weeks after recruitment
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