Determining the Effect of Food ordering on blood glucose In GDM
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Determining the Effect of Food ordering on blood glucose In Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (DEFI-GDM) - a randomised crossover study
IRAS ID
346910
Contact name
Hannah O'Hara
Contact email
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 11 months, 26 days
Research summary
Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is glucose intolerance with onset or first diagnosis during pregnancy, affecting around 1 in 10 pregnancies in the UK. Women with GDM are 10 times more likely to develop type 2 DM and twice as likely to develop cardiovascular disease in later life than women without GDM. Dietary modification is recommended as first line management to optimise blood glucose control. However, this often fails, necessitating the use of medication such as metformin and insulin. There is a pressing need to find safe and effective dietary approaches to optimise glycaemic control in GDM which can be easily adhered to in order to improve longer-term outcomes. The impact of the sequence of macronutrients on glycaemic control is an emerging area of interest. Recent evidence suggests that the consumption of the fat/protein components of a meal prior to the carbohydrate components, reduces the peak by around 40% after food. This study aims to determine whether the order that macronutrients (i.e. protein, fat, carbohydrate) are eaten affects; blood sugar glucose levels in the blood after a meal, appetite, food intake and the release of hormones in the body, in women with GDM. Pregnant women with GDM (n=35), aged 18-50 years old, will be randomised. Women are not eligible if they have a history of type 1 or 2 diabetes, any clinically confirmed food allergies, taking medication for GDM, severe nausea or using anti-sickness medication. Recruitment will be via antenatal clinics in the South Eastern Health and Social Care Trust (SEHSCT) and by posters. Participants will attend the Centre for Public Health on two occasions (maximum 2 weeks between visits) and will involve the collection of demographic information, weight and height measurements, blood samples, glucose measurements, consumption of study breakfast, and completion of two 1-day food diaries.
REC name
HSC REC B
REC reference
25/NI/0004
Date of REC Opinion
14 Feb 2025
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion