The Efficacy of mHealth Interventions in Treatment of Gestational Diabetes Mellitus: A Research Protocol

Abstract

Introduction: Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is a disease characterized by dysfunctional glucose regulation resulting from issues with insulin production and/or regulation. If not controlled, GDM can have significant impacts on fetal development and may lead to complications in pregnant women. GDM is often treated with regular glycemic monitoring, dietary and lifestyle changes, and in most cases insulin injections. As a result of the number of interventions, managing GDM can add further stress to a pregnancy. In this study, we aim to investigate the effects of mobile health (mHealth) solutions on the outcomes of pregnant women experiencing GDM, and their babies.

Methods: The sample population of pregnant women with GDM will be split into two groups: the control group will receive usual care for glycemic control as outlined by their endocrinologists and/or gynecologists, while the experimental group will receive care for glycemic control using mHealth interventions. Patients will be monitored on a bi-weekly basis from the time they were diagnosed with GDM to the time of the delivery of their babies. Compliance, blood glucose levels, pregnancy and neonatal outcomes, and weight gain will be monitored. A two-sample proportion test and 95% confidence interval will be generated to compare the variables between each category.

Results: We anticipate that the experimental group will have higher compliance, with less emergency outpatient visits, reduced weight gain, and higher satisfaction with their intervention method. We also anticipate the same blood glucose measurements in both pre- and post-prandial states. The same maternal and neonatal post-delivery outcomes are also expected.

Discussion: This study evaluates the effectiveness of mHealth interventions on glycemic control.  Future research may investigate the maternal effects of stress in conjunction with diabetes, as well as evaluating existing mHealth solutions for factors such as accessibility, and available features.

Conclusion: We anticipate that mHealth interventions, used alongside traditional glycemic monitoring methods, will improve the outcomes of pregnant women with GDM by reducing stress and empowering them to take control of their own treatment.