Early Screening and Treatment of Women With Prediabetes in Pregnancy

INTAKE VISIT: A health professional performs this visit soon after the diagnosis of pregnancy. Standardized glycosylated hemoglobin (A1C)is drawn as part of the routine prenatal panel at the above institutions. Women with an A1C of >6.5% are categorized as having type 2 diabetes, excluded from randomization, and referred for medical nutrition therapy, blood glucose monitoring, and insulin as needed. Women with an initial A1C <5.7% will receive routine prenatal care by their usual providers and will be screened for gestational diabetes Mellitus (GDM) in the second trimester per routine. Standard treatment for both these diabetic groups will be provided independently of this study, but anonymous outcome data will be available via hospital perinatal databases. Women with an A1c of 5.7-6.4% are eligible for the study.

EARLY PRENATAL VISIT: women with an A1C of 5.7-6.4% will be informed by their providers that they fall into a group labeled "prediabetes" outside of pregnancy and will be invited to learn about the study. All prediabetic women (agreeing to enroll or not) will be informed about general health risks and appropriate weight gain during pregnancy. Women who enroll will be queried regarding basic demographic information, pre-pregnancy weight, height, and obstetric and family history. Standardized weight, blood pressure (BP), and body mass index (BMI) will be recorded. Participants will be given a 1-page survey regarding their knowledge of risk factors for diabetes, appropriate weight gain in pregnancy, and the benefits of breastfeeding.

RANDOMIZATION AND MANAGEMENT: Women who enroll by 13 weeks gestation will be stratified by BMI < 30 or > 30 and randomized to either:

1. Minimal Intervention (Control) Group: A single visit with a randomized control trial (RCT)-associated dietitian or health educator to discuss general health risks, good eating habits, and appropriate weight gain. This will be followed by routine prenatal care as determined by provider.
2. Treatment Group: Treatment for glucose intolerance including:

Diet: Regular visits with a dietitian every 2 weeks emphasizing a food and beverage plan (Institute of Medicine standards) of appropriate energy and no more than 45% carbohydrate; limited saturated fat; adequate protein, mineral and vitamin intake; and portion control by 'carbohydrate counting'. Food and beverage intake will be divided into 3 meals and 3 snacks and self-recorded on daily food records. Recommended choices of foods and carbohydrate type will take into account personal and cultural preferences. Standardized weight will be measured and charted at each visit. The MNT plan will be adjusted according to maternal weight gain and ongoing glycemic levels. Participants will continue the MNT plan until delivery, and it will be adjusted postpartum for the needs of breastfeeding. Furthermore this group will be treated with:

1. EXERCISE: Participants will be encouraged to exercise with a minimum of brisk walking for 30 minutes each day (often 10 minutes after each meal).
2. SELF BLOOD GLUCOSE MONITORING: Participants will perform finger sticks four times each day (fasting and 1-hour after starting breakfast, lunch, and dinner) and self-recording of these values. At study visits the accuracy of the written records will be compared to the meter memory, and the glucose values will be downloaded for later analysis. The One Touch Delica and UltraMini self-monitoring of blood glucose (SMBG) system will be used and the meter, lancets and strips will be provided free of charge to the participants.
3. INSULIN: Participants will be started on insulin therapy by standard methods if more than 25% of fasting finger sticks are greater than 99 mg/dL or 1-hour post prandial finger sticks are greater than 135 mg/dL over a 2-week interval.

26 WEEKS GESTATION: Participants in both groups will be assessed for weight gain and blood pressure, and they will complete a 75-g, 2-hr oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) (2H GTT). Those in the minimal intervention group with one or more abnormal value by ADA standards will be treated for GDM. No additional intervention will be given to women in the treatment group since will already be receiving treatment. In this study, we have chosen to use the 2H GTT as it has been correlated with adverse perinatal outcomes as described by the Hyperglycemia and Adverse Pregnancy Outcome (HAPO) study group.

DELIVERY: Recommendations for timing of delivery, management of labor, and route of delivery will be made by usual obstetric care providers independent of study personnel. All participants will have A1C measured as an indicator of late pregnancy glycemic control. Umbilical cord blood will be collected on all participants to evaluate levels of c-peptide. Elevated c-peptide is a measure of fetal hyperinsulinemia and a marker of fetopathy24. Delivery and neonatal data will be collected (see below). Participants will be instructed to continue the diet therapy for at least 6 months postpartum

6-WEEK POSTPARTUM VISIT: All participants will undergo a 2H GTT and have A1C checked. Their weight will be recorded and compared to pre-pregnancy weight. Breastfeeding will be assessed.