THE PHONE APP THAT CUT GESTATIONAL DIABETES IN HIGH-RISK MUMS-TO-BE
Gestational diabetes is becoming one of the most common complications of pregnancy in Australia, but new research suggests the smartphone in your handbag could be a surprisingly useful ally.
An international trial published this week in The Lancet Digital Health found that personalised health coaching delivered through an app helped reduce the number of high-risk women who went on to develop the condition.
The timing is fitting, with World Diabetes Day marked on Saturday, November 14, under the global theme of early action.
What the gestational diabetes trial found
The study, called Bump2Baby and Me, was led by Professor Sharleen O'Reilly from University College Dublin.
It enrolled 865 pregnant women who were between 12 and 24 weeks along and had been identified as being at higher risk of gestational diabetes.
Women were recruited across four health systems in Ireland, the UK, Spain and Australia, with the Australian arm based at Monash Medical Centre in Melbourne.
Half the women received their usual antenatal care, while the other half received usual care plus coaching through a smartphone app.
Trained health professionals offered live sessions and text or video support on eating well, staying active and looking after their wellbeing.
Everyone in the study was given a Bluetooth-enabled set of scales.
According to the university's announcement, the app group saw a "clinically important" reduction in the number of women diagnosed with gestational diabetes.
Interestingly, there was no difference between the groups in average body mass index a year after the birth.
Women who weighed themselves regularly did see a significant drop in BMI, although the researchers describe that as an association rather than proof of cause and effect.
No adverse events linked to the coaching were reported.
Professor O'Reilly said ongoing, high-quality coaching "can improve metabolic outcomes and reduce gestational diabetes incidence".
Why it matters for Australian mums
Gestational diabetes is diabetes that develops during pregnancy, usually picked up through a glucose test in the second trimester.
It is far more common than many of us realise.
Figures from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare show 17% of women who gave birth in 2023 had gestational diabetes, up from 13% in 2018.
Rates climb with age, reaching 21% among mums aged 35 to 39 and 26% among those aged 40 and over.
Women born in some countries, including India, Pakistan, Nepal, Vietnam, the Philippines and China, also have notably higher rates.
With more Australians starting families later, finding practical, low-cost ways to support women early in pregnancy is a big deal for maternity services.
Small steps that support a healthy pregnancy
The beauty of a coaching approach is that it fits around busy lives, rather than adding more appointments to the calendar.
If you are pregnant or planning a baby, it is worth asking your GP or midwife whether you have any risk factors and when you will be tested.
Regular, gentle movement such as walking or swimming, if your care team is happy for you to do it, can help.
Building meals around vegetables, wholegrains and lean protein, and keeping sugary drinks for occasional treats, is sensible for most mums-to-be.
Keep up with your antenatal appointments, because early testing means any problems can be managed sooner.
Every pregnancy is different, so speak to your GP, midwife or obstetrician before making big changes.
What comes next for gestational diabetes care
The research team has secured €2 million in European partnership funding for a follow-up project focused on building the coaching programme into routine maternity care.
The original trial was funded by the European Union's Horizon 2020 programme, with co-funding from Australia's National Health and Medical Research Council.
Detailed figures on exactly how many fewer women developed the condition were not included in the public announcement, so it will be worth watching how quickly the approach is adopted here.
For broader diabetes support, Diabetes Australia says more than 300 Australians develop diabetes every day, and up to 58% of type 2 diabetes may be prevented or delayed with lifestyle changes.
That is a reminder that small, supported habits, started early, really can add up.
