Gestational diabetes can be prevented in high-risk women

http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2015-07/uoh-gdc073015.php

Public Release: 30-Jul-2015
Gestational diabetes can be prevented in high-risk women
University of Helsinki

The prevalence of overweight and obesity are increasing worldwide. Up to 60 percent of women of reproductive age are overweight or obese in the developed countries. Obesity is a risk factor for pregnancy complications such as GDM, which in turn is a well-known predictor of future diabetes. Gestational diabetes and maternal obesity may also increase the offsprings' predisposition to obesity and impaired glucose regulation. Thus there is a need for effective interventions aiming at preventing GDM. The results of previous GDM prevention studies have, however, been inconsistent and the effect on GDM incidence has been minor.

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In total 293 women with a history of GDM or a prepregnancy body mass index > 30 kg/m2 were enrolled at less than 20 weeks of gestation (mean 13 gestational weeks). They were randomly allocated to an intervention group (n=155) or a control group (n=138). The participants in the intervention group received individualized counseling on diet, physical activity and weight control from trained study nurses and had one group meeting with dietitian. The control group received standard antenatal care.

GDM diagnosis was based upon a 75g oral glucose tolerance test at 24-28 weeks of gestation.

Intervention reduced incidence of gestational diabetes by 39 percent in high-risk pregnant women

There was a significant difference in GDM between the groups. The incidence of GDM was 13.9 percent in the intervention group and 21.6 percent in the control group.

Gestational weight gain was lower in the intervention group, and women in the intervention group also increased their leisure time physical activity more and improved their dietary quality compared with the women in the control group.

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