Gestational Diabetes Mellitus Care Research Articles

Improving gestational diabetes care: Mobile glucose monitoring to reduce complications

Background: Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) incurs risks for both mother and baby and requires close medical attention throughout pregnancy. This retrospective study examined the impact of myDiabby® software on GDM care and complications.Material and Methods: The study population was divided between a pre-MyDiabby® group, with traditional monitoring before September 2017, and a myDiabby® group, using the myDiabby® app after September 2017. The aim was to compare the main complications of GDM and blood glucose control between the two groups, using Fisher’s exact test or bilateral Student t-test as appropriate. Backward logistic regression was used to identify independent factors associated with glycemic control and caesarean section (C-section).Results: There were 622 pre-myDiabby® and 649 myDiabby® patients. The myDiabby® group showed significantly lower risk of C-section (17.2% vs. 11.3%, p=0.004). After adjustment for pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI), maternal age, prematurity, macrosomia and eclampsia, telemedicine was independently associated with a lower rate of C-section (OR=0.67, 95% CI: 0.51-0.89, p=0.005). Glycemic control improved (66.6% vs. 85.4%, p<0.001), with only a trend for need of insulin treatment. MyDiabby® remained associated with glycemic control (OR=3.15, 95% CI: 2.87-4.33, p<0.001) independently of pre-pregnancy BMI, insulin treatment or personal history of GDM.Conclusion: These findings highlight the potential benefits of using telemedicine tools in the management of GDM during pregnancy.

Gestational diabetes mellitus care re‐imagined: women's experiences of a major model of care change at a large metropolitan hospital

Abstract Background: A gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) pregnancy has significant psychological, time and resource impacts. In 2020–21, a digitally‐supported radical GDM service redesign was undertaken at a Brisbane tertiary centre, producing substantial cost savings without compromising clinical outcomes.Aims: To describe women's experiences within this new model of care (MOC), specifically the app user experience (MOC) (post), compared with a traditional MOC (pre).Methods: The new MOC was evaluated using a pre–post study design. This MOC included a smartphone app‐to‐clinician blood glucose communication platform. A convenience sample of women were surveyed about care experiences and app use pre‐ and post‐implementation. An additional survey queried user app experience at four weeks’ postpartum.Results: Within the service, 34% (n=24) and 22% (n=48) of women were surveyed pre and post MOC introduction, respectively. Pre‐implementation, 50% (n=12) of women missed work to attend appointments and 75% spent 30–120 minutes at the hospital. Questions regarding understanding GDM, initial dietary changes and glucometer use received similar or slightly lower ratings, pre‐ to post‐implementation. Nearly a quarter of women in the app‐experiences survey (24.2%; n=177) showed high levels of satisfaction with care received (91.5%) and with the app for managing GDM (87.1%). Two experience themes that emerged were Enhanced GDM management and Usability issues.Conclusions: The new MOC reduced time impositions associated with attending appointments. Despite the removal of face‐to‐face visits in the new MOC, women still established a connection with their treating team and maintained their understanding of their GDM management. Copyright © 2024 John Wiley &amp; Sons.

Development and validation of interprofessional health education module for the management of gestational diabetes mellitus.

Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is a glucose intolerance that shows its first onset during pregnancy. In India, GDM affects as many as 5 million women annually. The interprofessional collaborative educational intervention is crucial for GDM management. This study illustrates the collaborative effort in developing and validating an interprofessional health education module designed for healthcare professionals during consultation sessions with GDM patients. The investigation involved three stages: 1) needs assessment for module contents and objectives, 2) health education module development by an interprofessional team, and 3) module validation. We received ethics approval from the institution's ethics committee. The interprofessional team developed and validated the evidence-based English-printed module. The module had 27 units and covered six topics: an introduction to GDM and its management, dietary recommendations for GDM, exercise, yoga recommendations for GDM, weight control, and postpartum care. The interprofessional team developed the educational module, wherein there is an integration of the domains of exercise and yoga along with medicines and nutrition therapy. The module was developed based on local requirements and evidence-based practices. Healthcare professionals can use the interprofessional health education module when advising diabetic pregnant patients.

Subsidized gestational diabetes mellitus screening and management program in rural China: a pragmatic multicenter, randomized controlled trial

BackgroundThe increasing prevalence of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is a major challenge, particularly in rural areas of China where control rates are suboptimal. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of a GDM subsidy program in promoting GDM screening and management in these underserved regions.MethodsThis multicenter, randomized controlled trial (RCT) was conducted in obstetric clinics of six rural hospitals located in three provinces in China. Eligible participants were pregnant women in 24–28 weeks’ gestation, without overt diabetes, with a singleton pregnancy, access to a telephone, and provided informed consent. Participants were randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to either the intervention or control groups using an internet-based, computer-generated randomization system. The intervention group received subsidized care for GDM, which included screening, blood glucose retesting, and lifestyle management, with financial assistance provided to health care providers. In contrast, the control group received usual care. The primary outcomes of this study were the combined maternal and neonatal complications associated with GDM, as defined by the occurrence of at least one pre-defined complication in either the mother or newborn. The secondary outcomes included the GDM screening rate, rates of glucose retesting for pregnant women diagnosed with GDM, dietary patterns, physical activity levels, gestational weight gain, and antenatal visit frequency for exploratory purposes. Primary and secondary outcomes were obtained for all participants with and without GDM. Binary outcomes were analyzed by the generalized linear model with a link of logistic, and odds ratios (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were reported. Count outcomes were analyzed by Poisson regression, and incidence rate ratios with 95% CIs were reported.ResultsA total of 3294 pregnant women were randomly assigned to either the intervention group (n = 1649) or the control group (n = 1645) between 15 September 2018 and 30 September 2019. The proportion of pregnant women in the intervention group who suffered from combined maternal and/or neonatal complications was lower than in the control group with adjusted OR = 0.86 (0.80 to 0.94, P = 0.001), and a more significant difference was observed in the GDM subgroup (adjusted OR = 0.66, 95% CI 0.47 to 0.95, P = 0.025). No predefined safety or adverse events of ketosis or ketoacidosis associated with GDM management were detected in this study. Both the intervention and control groups had high GDM screening rates (intervention: 97.2% [1602/1649]; control: 94.5% [1555/1645], P < 0.001). Moreover, The intervention group showed a healthier lifestyle, with lower energy intake and more walking minutes (P values < 0.05), and more frequent blood glucose testing (1.5 vs. 0.4 visits; P = 0.001) compared to the control group.ConclusionIn rural China, a GDM care program that provided incentives for both pregnant women and healthcare providers resulted in improved maternal and neonatal health outcomes. Public health subsidy programs in China should consider incorporating GDM screening and management to further enhance reproductive health.Trial registrationChina Clinical Trials Registry ChiCTR1800017488. https://www.chictr.org.cn/

Factors influencing gestational diabetes self-care among pregnant women in a Syrian Refugee Camp in Jordan.

The main objective of this study is to identify the level of self-care practices and the determinants of Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (GDM) among pregnant women residing in one of the refugee camps in Jordan. A cross-sectional study was conducted on a convenient sample of forty women diagnosed with GDM from the high-risk maternity clinic in one of the Syrian refugee camps in Jordan. The study used the Gestational Diabetes Management Self-Efficacy Scale (GDMSES), Diabetes Knowledge (DMK) assessment, and Diabetes Self-Care Activities Questionnaire (SDSCA) to measure the variables of interest. Descriptive analysis and Multiple logistic regression were used to assess for significant factors. Significant associations were found between the subcategories of diet, exercise, and blood sugar control in both the self-efficacy and self-activity scales (p < 0.01, p < 0.01, p < 0.05), respectively. Two factors were associated with higher GDM self-care: diabetes knowledge and higher self-efficacy toward GDM self-care (p < 0.05). The findings of this study highlight that pregnant women with GDM who have higher levels of self-efficacy and diabetes knowledge are more likely to achieve higher levels of GDM self-care. Beside developing health promotion programs to enhance women's self-efficacy in adhering to GDM care, adequate support and relevant resources to facilitate GDM management among refugee women are recommended. Future research for identifying other potential factors affecting GDM self-care among refugees is highly recommended.

Self-care Behaviour of Pregnant Women with Gestational Diabetes Mellitus at a Tertiary Care Hospital in Lucknow, India: A Quasi-experimental Study

Introduction: India is now the diabetes capital of the world. The rising burden of Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (GDM) adds to the existing diabetes burden. Euglycemia is achieved once the baby is delivered. The first line of management of GDM is mainly through lifestyle modification with diet and physical activity. There is a dearth of information from Lucknow city about how well pregnant women with GDM adhere to dietary changes and exercise recommendations, or how counselling helps them deal with their GDM. Aim: To assess the self-care behaviour related to diet, physical activity, and Self-Monitoring of Blood Glucose (SMBG) of pregnant women diagnosed with GDM. Materials and Methods: A total of 188 pregnant women diagnosed with GDM were selected for present quasiexperimental study. The study participants were recruited from the antenatal Outpatient Department (OPD) at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology of Queen’s Mary Hospital, King George Medical University (KGMU), Lucknow, India. The total study duration was from November 2019 to November 2022. Pregnant women diagnosed with GDM according to Diabetes in Pregnancy Study Group in India (DIPSI) criteria, up to 28 weeks of gestation, who gave their written consent to participate in the study and were living within a 15-kilometer radius of the study Institute, were included in the study. One group of the study participants received one-to-one counselling, an individualised diet plan, along with usual GDM care, and the other group received usual GDM care during their antenatal visits. The summary of diabetes self-care was adapted to assess adherence to the recommended dietary and physical activity modifications, as well as self-monitoring of blood glucose. Data were analysed using R software version 4.1.1 (R Core Team, 2021). All categorical data were presented using frequency and percentages. The comparison of baseline demographic and clinical parameters of pregnant women between the two groups was done using the Chi-square test or Fisher’s-exact test for categorical observations based on the expected frequency. The independent sample t-test or Mann-whitney U test for continuous measurements was used after checking the normality assumption using the Shapiro-wilk test. The change in scores of general diet, specific diet, physical activity, and SMBG throughout all follow-ups was assessed by repeated measures Analysis of Variance (ANOVA). The change from the first follow-up visit to subsequent follow-up visit was compared using a mixed linear model with follow-up visits. The p-value was considered significant at a 5% level of significance for all comparisons. Results: The mean age of the pregnant women with GDM was 27.6±3.7 years in the intervention group and 27.9±3.9 years in the control group (p=0.451). The pregnant women with GDM in the two groups did not show significant differences in terms of socio-demographic variables such as age, religion, education, socio-economic status, occupation, type of family, and family history of diabetes mellitus. A significant difference was observed in the dietary and physical activity scores between the two groups of pregnant women with GDM. However, no difference was observed in the case of self-monitoring of blood glucose scores of the two groups. Conclusion: The study concluded that counseling plays an important role in helping pregnant women with GDM adhere to the recommended dietary modifications and physical activity.

Assessment of Quality of Life in Gestational Diabetes Mellitus Care-Study Protocol of the GDM-QOL Project.

In recent years, the concept of quality of life (QoL) has gained significant importance within health care and clinical research, e.g., as in patient-reported outcomes. In gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) care, enhancing QoL through reasonable interventions is considered equally important as achieving metabolic control and preventing complications in the treatment process, leading to the suggestion that QoL assessment should be implemented as a clinical standard in GDM care. Although a considerable number of questionnaires for the measurement of general as well as health-related and diabetes-specific QoL are frequently used in GDM research, a validated QoL questionnaire tailored to women with GDM does not exist in German-speaking countries. To develop and test such an instrument, we plan to conduct the following steps: (a) translate the Persian questionnaire GDMQ-36, the only GDM-specific questionnaire to date; (b) conduct expert ratings as well as pretests featuring cognitive debriefings and structured interviews with women suffering from GDM for evaluating comprehensibility, face and content validity; (c) pilot and validate the preliminary questionnaire in terms of testing its psychometric performance (e.g., via confirmatory factor analysis). The resulting GDM-specific questionnaire will facilitate a broader perspective of the pregnant women's expectations, needs, impairments, and burdens related to their disease, and its treatment. This enables physicians and other health professionals to establish an individualized treatment plan and to provide customized information, support, and psychological counseling, which helps to optimize the provided care.

FRI630 Information Technology &amp; Decision Support In Electronic Health Records As A Tool To Improve Care For Women With Gestational Diabetes

Abstract Disclosure: O. Derevianko: None. T. Rumyantceva: None. D. Fomin: None. Background &amp; Aims: The prevalence of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) in Russia is increasing and the true prevalence of GDM may be even higher because underreporting of GDM and lack of proper screening. Difficulties in documenting and reaching consensus on the prevalence of GDM exist for a number of reasons, including the use of various diagnostic criteria, past confusion about the specific criteria used to diagnose GDM, and the lack of knowledge about modern recommendations for screening and diagnosis. The aim of our study was to explore the quality of GDM care experienced by women in Russia in Fomin Clinic in 12 cities in Russia and how it could be improved with the help of Electronic Health Record with decision support. Methods: 1264 Electronic Health Records of women with GDM before and after the start of the decision support ( 613 and 651, respectively) were analyzed and rated on a 100-point scale (diagnostics, nutrition, physical activity, self-control of glycemia recommendations were evaluated). The decision support system based on Guidelines of Russian Endocrinology Association, American Diabetes Association, National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence and Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists. Results: The average score before using decision support was 47, and after doctors started to use it the average score after 6 months of using became 81. Conclusions: Electronic Health Record with decision support is great tool which improves quality of care for women with gestational diabetes and refines the diagnosis and treatment of GDM in different cities in Russia. Presentation: Friday, June 16, 2023

A qualitative study exploring partner involvement in the management of gestational diabetes mellitus: The experiences of women and partners.

The aims of the study were to explore the experiences of women with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and their partners and examine the factors influencing partner involvement in GDM management, seeking to inform a targeted couple-based intervention. A descriptive qualitative study. We conducted semi-structured interviews with 14 women with GDM and their partners. Participants were recruited through convenience sampling from a tertiary hospital in Xi'an, China. Data were analysed using thematic analysis. Three themes and 12 subthemes were identified. Theme I: Women's expectations of their partner's involvement in GDM management-practical support and emotional support. Theme II: Partner involvement in GDM management-constructive involvement, unhelpful involvement with good intentions and insufficient involvement. Theme III: Factors that influence partner involvement in GDM-knowledge of GDM, GDM risk perception, health consciousness, attitudes towards the treatment plan, couple communication regarding GDM management, family roles and appraisal of GDM management responsibility. Women desired practical and emotional support from partners. The types of partner involvement in GDM management varied. Some partners provided constructive support, while some partners' involvement was limited, non-existent or actively unhelpful. By combining these results with the factors influencing partner involvement, our findings may help healthcare professionals develop strategies to involve partners in GDM care and enhance women's ability to manage GDM. Partner involvement in GDM care may help them understand and better attend to women's needs, thus improving their experience and potential outcomes. This study highlights novel factors that need to be considered in developing couple-based interventions for this population. The reporting follows the COREQ checklist. Some patients were involved in data interpretation. There is no public contribution.

Temporal validation and updating of a prediction model for the diagnosis of gestational diabetes mellitus

ObjectiveThe original Monash gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) risk prediction in early pregnancy model is internationally externally validated and clinically implemented. We temporally validate and update this model in a contemporary population with a universal screening context and revised diagnostic criteria and ethnicity categories, thereby improving model performance and generalizability. Study Design and SettingThe updating dataset comprised of routinely collected health data for singleton pregnancies delivered in Melbourne, Australia from 2016 to 2018. Model predictors included age, body mass index, ethnicity, diabetes family history, GDM history, and poor obstetric outcome history. Model updating methods were recalibration-in-the-large (Model A), intercept and slope re-estimation (Model B), and coefficient revision using logistic regression (Model C1, original ethnicity categories; Model C2, revised ethnicity categories). Analysis included 10-fold cross-validation, assessment of performance measures (c-statistic, calibration-in-the-large, calibration slope, and expected-observed ratio), and a closed-loop testing procedure to compare models’ log-likelihood and akaike information criterion scores. ResultsIn 26,474 singleton pregnancies (4,756, 18% with GDM), the original model demonstrated reasonable temporal validation (c-statistic = 0.698) but suboptimal calibration (expected-observed ratio = 0.485). Updated model C2 was preferred, with a high c-statistic (0.732) and significantly better performance in closed testing. ConclusionWe demonstrated updating methods to sustain predictive performance in a contemporary population, highlighting the value and versatility of prediction models for guiding risk-stratified GDM care.

A qualitative investigation into the perceptions and experiences of the stigma attached to gestational diabetes mellitus among women in Denmark

AimThe aim of this study was to explore the perceptions of women with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) in Denmark, with a particular focus on GDM-specific stigma. MethodWe conducted semi-structured interviews with 20 women with GDM from January to May 2022. All interviews were transcribed and analysed abductively using Braun and Clarke’s framework for applied reflexive analysis. ResultsFive themes were identified, 1) victim-blaming narrative, 2) identity threat, 3) non-disclosure and anticipated stigma, 4) stigma in a clinical setting, and 5) stigma reduction in a clinical setting. Additionally, intersectionality was identified between GDM-specific stigma, notions of how to be a good mother, and stigma associated with having type 2 diabetes mellitus and overweight. Implications of GDM-specific stigma included suboptimal GDM care and management, i.e., not attending screening for GDM, and not wanting to disclose the diagnosis. ConclusionThe impact of GDM-specific stigma on the informants’ lives included some informants not accepting all services provided by the healthcare system, and some not wanting to identify with the diagnosis. These findings may help inform both healthcare personnel and future health promotion interventions to minimize the reproduction of a victim-blaming narrative and thereby promote well-being among women with GDM.

1202-P: Comparison of the Clinical Characteristics, Glycemic Control, and Pregnancy Outcomes between Wave I and III of COVID-19 Pandemic in Women with Gestational Diabetes Mellitus—A Reference Center Report

Background: The medical care for gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) during the COVID-19 pandemic was influenced by changing epidemiological conditions and governmental regulations. Aim To compare the clinical data of GDM women between wave I and III of COVID-19 pandemic. Materials and methods: We performed retrospective analysis of the medical records from the GDM clinic of the University Hospital in Krakow, and compared the periods of March-May 2020 and March-May 2021, corresponding to wave I and III, respectively. Results: GDM women during wave I (N=118) as compared to wave III (N=116) were older (33.0±4.7 vs 32.1±4.8 years; p=0.03), booked later (21.8±8.4 vs 20.3±8.5 weeks; p=0.08) and had the last visit earlier (35.5±2.0 vs. 35.7±3.2 weeks; p&amp;lt;0.01). The pregnancy weight gain were similar (8.9±5.6 vs 8.4±5.6 kg; p=NS). Telemedicine consultations were used more frequently during wave I (36% vs 18% of all visits; p&amp;lt;0.01) while insulin therapy less often (64.7% vs. 80.2%; p&amp;lt;0.01). The mean fasting self-control glucose did not differ (4.8±0.3 vs 4.8±0.3 mmol/l; p=0.25) but a worse postprandial glycemia during wave I was reported (6.6±0.9 vs. 6.3±0.6 mmol/l; p&amp;lt;0.01). Pregnancy outcome data were available from 77 and 73 pregnancies, respectively. The groups were similar for the delivery time (38.2±1.4 vs. 38.1±1.6 weeks), cesarean sections (58.4% vs. 61.3%), APGAR score (9.7±1.0 vs. 9.7±1.0 pts) and birth weight (3306.6±460.6 g vs 3243.9±500.2) (p=NS for all), slightly higher length occurred for Wave I (54.3±2.6 cm vs. 53.3±2.6; p=0.02). Conclusions: We identified differences in many areas between GDM women booking either during wave I or III of COVID-19 pandemic, however, the pregnancy outcomes were mostly similar. Disclosure M.Wilk: None. M.Kania: None. M.Malecki: Advisory Panel; Abbott Diabetes, Novo Nordisk, Lilly, Sanofi, Dexcom, Inc., Bayer Inc., Research Support; Medtronic, Speaker's Bureau; AstraZeneca, AlfaSigma, Merck &amp; Co., Inc., BIOTON S.A., Servier Laboratories, KRKA.

1030-P: Large-Scale Implementation of a Digital Solution to Support Management of Gestational Diabetes

Introduction: Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (GDM) is one of the most common medical conditions of pregnancy and its incidence is rising. The MoTHer system, an App and web-based portal, was developed to support GDM management. It enables multidisciplinary care co-ordination by providing shared access to healthcare professionals involved in GDM care. Methods: MoTHer was developed through co-design with users at an urban Australian hospital and tested in a feasibility study (n=40) in 2017-18. An implementation trial commenced in June 2020 and is currently underway in 5 Australian hospitals of varying sizes. Results: More than 5000 women have utilised the MoTHer app. Care models differ at participating hospitals, some offering MoTHer as business as usual to all women with GDM, others providing MoTHer as an alternative to the traditional paper-based blood glucose diary, and one hospital only offering MoTHer to GDM patients on insulin. Each site has different implementation requirements and experiences, yet feedback from surveys administered (&amp;gt;300 responders) is positive, suggesting long-term adoption. Initial economic evaluation indicates a modest saving to health services. However, cost savings for the woman are estimated to be considerable (≈US$400 per patient) after accounting for lost wages, childcare, and travel expenses avoided. Comparing pre- and post-implementation groups, maternal (onset, mode of birth) and neonatal (birthweight, nursery admission) outcomes suggest MoTHer is clinically equivalent to traditional care. Discussion: The MoTHer system has been created to see greater efficiencies for both healthcare providers and for expectant mothers. This multi-site study highlights the adaptability of a digital solution to different GDM health services. Moreover, re-imagining GDM patient care by introducing a digital based model of care is promising substantial positive cost implications for patients without compromising their clinical outcomes. Disclosure M.Varnfield: None. K.Butten: None.

Priorities to improve woman-centred gestational diabetes mellitus care: A qualitative study to compare views between clinical and consumer end-users.

Immigrants worldwide have a two-fold higher risk of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) than women of the host country. Providing culturally appropriate woman-centred GDM care to attenuate adverse maternal and neonatal health outcomes is a persistent challenge for health services. Underpinned by the Knowledge to Action Framework, understanding and comparing the views of patients from different ethnic backgrounds and healthcare professionals (HCPs) about current and optimal GDM care can highlight priority areas to improve woman-centred care. This qualitative study aimed to compare the views of ethnic Chinese and Australian-born Caucasian women and their HCPs, including endocrinologists, obstetricians, midwives, diabetes nurse educators and dietitians, about what constitutes optimal GDM care and how to improve woman-centred GDM care. Purposive sampling was used to recruit 42 Chinese and 30 Caucasian women with GDM and 17 HCPs from two large Australian hospital maternity services to complete in-depth, semi-structured interviews. Patients' and HCPs' views were thematically analysed and compared. Four out of nine themes showed misalignments between patients' and HCPs' views on GDM care, reflecting priority areas to improve woman-centred care by (i) reaching agreement on the attitudes towards different treatment targets between HCPs; (ii) enhancing inter-professional communication; (iii) improving GDM care transition to postpartum care; and (iv) providing detailed dietary advice tailored to Chinese patients' cultural diet. Further research on reaching consensus on treatment targets, enhancing inter-professional communication, developing a perinatal care transition model from pregnancy to postpartum, and developing Chinese patient-oriented educational resources is required to improve woman-centred care.

“We are competing with culture” the chasm between healthcare professionals and Australian Samoan women in the prevention and management of gestational diabetes mellitus

Objective: The Samoan community has a disproportionately higher incidence of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). We explored consumer and healthcare providers’ insight into perceptions of risk, attitudes to lifestyle behaviour change and experiences of GDM among Australian Samoan women in South Western Sydney. Methods: Semi-structured interviews and a focus group with Samoan women recruited through three churches, a diabetes and pregnancy clinic in South Western Sydney and via social media were conducted. Semi-structured interviews with healthcare providers’ were also conducted. Main themes were thematically analysed to identify recurring patterns using Quirkos software. Identified themes were framed against the constructs of the Health Belief Model. Results: One focus group (n=4) and 12 one-to one interviews were conducted among Samoan women. Eighteen semi-structured interviews with healthcare providers’ were also conducted. There was a high concordance between Samoan women and healthcare providers’ regarding perception of risk and barriers to maintaining a healthy lifestyle. However, Samoan women reported negative interactions with healthcare providers’ that hindered their behaviour change, while healthcare providers’ reported that normalisation of diabetes, confusion of GDM with type 2 diabetes and spiritual health beliefs were deterrents to behaviour change among Samoan women. Conclusion: Cross-cultural factors can influence the uptake of a healthy lifestyle. Future research should consider use of culturally tailored strategies when developing educational resources targeting Samoan women. Implications for research, policy and practice: The participants’ viewpoints expressed in this study suggest a critical need for the development of culturally-tailored health promotion strategies for Samoan women and cultural training for healthcare providers’, to improve GDM care and subsequent pregnancy outcomes.

Gestational diabetes mellitus care re‐imagined – A cost‐minimisation analysis: Cost savings from a tertiary hospital, using a novel, digital‐based gestational diabetes management model

Diagnosis of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) in a pregnancy has a significant impact on health service resources and represents a substantial financial and time impost on women. To describe a cost-minimisation analysis conducted following the demonstration of clinically equivalent care of women using a novel, digital model for GDM management, compared with conventional care. A pre-implementation model of care was compared with the post-implementation model of care which included systematic development and delivery of education videos, use of the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation 'M♡THer' smart phone app/portal and a dramatically reduced schedule of visits. The Mater Mothers' Hospital Brisbane cares for approximately 1200 women with GDM per annum, on which the cost estimates were based. Service costs were estimated using the resource method, where resource volumes and costs were gathered from experts within the health service. Patient costs were estimated using results from a short survey completed by a cohort of the study population. Health service costs showed a modest saving of AU$17 441.78 (US$12 158.92) in the intervention group over a 12-month period. Cost savings for the woman were estimated at $566.56 (US$394.96) per patient after accounting for lost wages, childcare expenses, and travel expenses avoided. This reduction led to an overall saving of $679 872 (US$473 948.82) for the cohort of 1200 women, primarily due to the reduction in face-to-face visits. Re-imagining GDM patient care by introducing a novel, digital-based GDM model of care has substantial positive cost implications for patients.

GDM care re-imagined: Maternal and neonatal outcomes following a major model of care change for gestational diabetes mellitus at a large metropolitan hospital.

The rapidly rising prevalence of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) poses major challenges to the efficient, timely and sustainable provision of diabetes care. To assess whether the implementation of a novel, digital model of care would provide improved efficiency without compromising clinical outcomes in a cohort of women with GDM. A digital model of care was developed, implemented and evaluated using a prospective pre-post study design in 2020-21 at a quaternary centre. We introduced six culturally and linguistically tailored educational videos, home delivery of equipment and prescriptions, and a smartphone app-to-clinician portal for glycaemic review and management. Outcomes were prospectively recorded by an electronic medical record. Associations between model of care and maternal and neonatal characteristics and birth outcomes were examined for all women and separately by treatment received (diet, metformin, insulin). Comparing pre-implementation (n = 598) and post-implementation (n = 337) groups, maternal (onset, mode of birth) and neonatal (birthweight, large for gestational age (LGA), nursery admission) clinical outcomes confirmed that the novel model of care was similar to standard, traditional care. Minor birthweight variation was noted when separated by treatment type (diet, metformin, insulin). This pragmatic service redesign demonstrates reassuring clinical outcomes in a culturally diverse GDM cohort. Despite the lack of randomisation, this intervention has potential generalisability for GDM care and important key learnings for service redesign in the digital era.

Long-term cost-effectiveness of implementing a lifestyle intervention during pregnancy to reduce the incidence of gestational diabetes and type 2 diabetes

Aims/hypothesisThe aim of this study was to determine the long-term cost-effectiveness and return on investment of implementing a structured lifestyle intervention to reduce excessive gestational weight gain and associated incidence of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and type 2 diabetes mellitus.MethodsA decision-analytic Markov model was used to compare the health and cost-effectiveness outcomes for (1) a structured lifestyle intervention during pregnancy to prevent GDM and subsequent type 2 diabetes; and (2) current usual antenatal care. Life table modelling was used to capture type 2 diabetes morbidity, mortality and quality-adjusted life years over a lifetime horizon for all women giving birth in Australia. Costs incorporated both healthcare and societal perspectives. The intervention effect was derived from published meta-analyses. Deterministic and probabilistic sensitivity analyses were used to capture the impact of uncertainty in the model.ResultsThe model projected a 10% reduction in the number of women subsequently diagnosed with type 2 diabetes through implementation of the lifestyle intervention compared with current usual care. The total net incremental cost of intervention was approximately AU$70 million, and the cost savings from the reduction in costs of antenatal care for GDM, birth complications and type 2 diabetes management were approximately AU$85 million. The intervention was dominant (cost-saving) compared with usual care from a healthcare perspective, and returned AU$1.22 (95% CI 0.53, 2.13) per dollar invested. The results were robust to sensitivity analysis, and remained cost-saving or highly cost-effective in each of the scenarios explored.Conclusions/interpretationThis study demonstrates significant cost savings from implementation of a structured lifestyle intervention during pregnancy, due to a reduction in adverse health outcomes for women during both the perinatal period and over their lifetime.Graphical abstract

An Evaluation of Virtual Care for Gestational Diabetes Using the Quadruple Aim Framework: Assessment of Patient and Provider Experience, Cost, and Clinical Outcomes

ObjectiveOur aim in this study was to evaluate the impact of virtual care for gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. MethodsThis multiple methods program evaluation used the Quadruple Aim Framework. The impact on patient experience, cost, and provider satisfaction was assessed using surveys and interviews. Chi-square and Poisson statistics were used to compare clinical outcomes before (April 2019 to February 2020) and after (May 2020 to March 2021) the shift to virtual care. ResultsPatient experience surveys were completed by 85 women. Most of them rated their virtual care experience as good or excellent (93%), with a preference for continued virtual visits in the future (84%). Most respondents felt virtual care saved them money (93%) and time (98%). Six health-care providers at the Diabetes in Pregnancy Clinic were interviewed and all believed the switch to virtual care was largely positive. Overall, interview transcripts revealed that health-care providers were happy with the transition, although nurses initially perceived an increased workload. There were no significant differences in rates of cesarean section procedures, macrosomia, neonatal intensive care unit admissions or the proportion of appointments at which insulin was initiated between in-person and virtual care patient outcomes. There was a decreased proportion of missed appointments after the switch to virtual care (6.15% vs 1.21%, p<0.0001). ConclusionsThere has been high patient and provider satisfaction with virtual GDM care, with no difference in clinical outcomes and fewer missed appointments. Virtual GDM care should remain an option in the future.

Smartphone Apps for Surveillance of Gestational Diabetes: Scoping Review

Developments and evolutions in the information and communication technology sector have provided a solid foundation for the emergence of mobile health (mHealth) in recent years. The cornerstone to management of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is the self-management of glycemic indices, dietary intake, and lifestyle adaptations. Given this, it is readily adaptable to incorporation of remote monitoring strategies involving mHealth solutions. We sought to examine and assess the available smartphone apps which enable self-monitoring and remote surveillance of GDM with a particular emphasis on the generation of individualized patient feedback. Five databases were searched systematically for any studies evaluating mHealth-supported smartphone solutions for GDM management from study inception until January 2022. The studies were screened and assessed for eligibility of inclusion by 2 independent reviewers. Ultimately, 17 studies were included involving 1871 patients across 11 different countries. The PRISMA-ScR (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Extension for Scoping Reviews) conceptual framework was adhered to for data extraction and categorization purposes. All studies analyzed as part of this review facilitated direct uploading of data from the handheld glucometer to the downloaded patient-facing smartphone app. Glycemic data were captured by all studies and were reassuringly found to be either improved or noninferior to extant models of hospital-based care. Feedback was delivered in either an automated fashion through in-app communication from the health care team or facilitated through bidirectional communication with the app and hospital portal. Although resource utilization and cost-effective analyses were reported in some studies, the results were disparate and require more robust analysis. Where patient and staff satisfaction levels were evaluated, the response was overwhelmingly positive for mHealth smartphone-delivered care strategies. Emergency cesarean section rates were reduced; however, elective cesarean sections were comparatively increased among studies where the mode of delivery was assessed. Most reviewed studies did not identify any differences in maternal, perinatal, or neonatal health when app-based care was compared with usual in-person review. This comprehensive scoping review highlights the feasibility, reliability, and acceptability of app-assisted health care for the management of GDM. Although further exploration of the economic benefit is required prior to implementation in a real-world clinical setting, the prospect of smartphone-assisted health care for GDM is hugely promising.