Study to Prevent Dysglycemia in Women With GDM

Overview

Women with a history of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) have a 7-fold increased risk of type 2 diabetes (T2D), with the risk at its highest during the 3-6 years postpartum. GDM thus represents one of the strongest known risk factors for T2D. Only 30-60% of women with GDM returned for postpartum visits, with the majority defaulting on postpartum glucose tolerance testing. Women with GDM also have an increased risk of hypertension, cardiovascular disease (CVD), non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, and other comorbidities. Through this study, participants will receive lifestyle advice that may help them prevent diabetes. The study will help determine whether a multicomponent intervention will prevent incident dysglycemia and improve offspring cardiometabolic health. This will inform healthcare professionals and policymakers if these interventions are helpful. The control group will receive basic dietary information leaflets and will have access to the e-care platform for the three-year period (8-166 weeks postnatal). They will receive routine lifestyle advice and counseling. The intervention groups will receive information on basic dietary information and have access to the e-platform. Participants will attend individualized/group dietary counseling sessions biweekly in the first 4 months during the intensive phase (V1-V7) and thereafter bimonthly (V8-10, 28-50 weeks postnatal) and biyearly between year 1 to year 3. This will include 16 sessions with a dietitian/nutritionist and 4 sessions with an exercise instructor. Participants will be given an individualized menu plan aiming at achieving a varied, balanced diet with an emphasis on fiber intake and moderate-carbohydrate, low-fat, low-glycemic index products in appropriate portions. The lifestyle intervention program will incorporate motivational interviewing and behavioral modification to enhance health knowledge on daily diet and physical activity. The lifestyle intervention aims to achieve targets on body weight, dietary intake, and physical activities.

The high-risk nature of women with GDM highlights this group as the "low-hanging fruit" who would substantially benefit from engagement in diabetes prevention programs. Lifestyle intervention has been shown to reduce the progression to T2D among women with GDM. In a systematic review and meta-analysis including 8 lifestyle intervention trials implemented post-GDM, there was a homogenous 25% reduction (relative risk (RR): 0.75; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.55-1.03) in incident diabetes, though not statistically significant. Of note, trials offering intervention soon after delivery (i.e., \<6 months postpartum) were most effective. This contrasts with efforts during pregnancy to reduce GDM, which have failed to reduce GDM unless initiated very early. The long-term follow-up of mothers and offspring from the Hyperglycemia and Adverse Pregnancy Outcome (HAPO) study has highlighted the increased risk of adiposity, obesity, and diabetes in offspring, who are at increased risk of NCDs later in life. Hence, enrolling mothers with GDM in empowerment and prevention programs will not only reduce their risk of diabetes and CVD but may also benefit other family members, in particular the offspring. In a previous pilot lifestyle intervention trial in mothers with GDM in the postpartum setting (NCT03669887), the investigators established the logistics of engaging mothers during the busy postpartum period, performing repeated OGTTs and clinical assessments, and co-designing with mothers a lifestyle intervention curriculum suitable for implementation during the postpartum period. The investigators demonstrated the benefit of the intervention in improving the health behaviors of GDM mothers at 1 year. The investigators were able to engage participants with GDM and noted their misconceptions about the long-term impact of GDM, their concerns about whether they can breastfeed, and lack of awareness of the risk of obesity in their offspring. The intervention arm had improved dietary quality as measured using the Dietary Quality Index-International (DQI-I) score, more favorable changes in BMI at 6 months postpartum, and a trend towards better glycemic status after 12 months. Objectives: Primary objective \- To evaluate the effect of a multicomponent postpartum intervention to prevent incident dysglycemia in women with a history of GDM. Secondary objectives" * To evaluate the effect of a multicomponent intervention on body weight and composition. * To evaluate the effect of a multicomponent intervention on cardiometabolic health parameters including blood pressure, heart rate, vital signs, and lipid profiles. * To evaluate the effect of a multicomponent intervention on continuous glucose monitoring metrics. * To evaluate the effect of a multicomponent intervention on dietary intake. * To evaluate the effect of a multicomponent intervention on physical activity. * To evaluate the effect of a multicomponent intervention on breastfeeding and infant feeding practices. * To evaluate the effect of a multicomponent intervention on offspring growth, weight, and adiposity. Compared with conventional care. Study design: Multi-center, prospective, parallel-group, open-label randomized controlled trial Study population: Women with a history of GDM Sample size: 800 subjects Intervention: Multicomponent intervention including e-care and wearables Comparator: Conventional care Setting: Women with a history of gestational diabetes will be identified from antenatal clinics. The study will be conducted at the Prince of Wales Hospital and the CUHK Medical Centre.