Dietary Intervention for the Treatment of Gestational Diabetes

  • Research type

    Research Study

  • Full title

    Dietary Intervention for the Treatment of Gestational Diabetes: A Magnetic Resonance Study of Maternal Liver Fat

  • IRAS ID

    148300

  • Contact name

    Roy Taylor

  • Contact email

    roy.taylor@ncl.ac.uk

  • Sponsor organisation

    The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

  • Research summary

    Diabetes of onset in pregnancy (gestational diabetes) affects up to 5% of pregnancies in the UK and its incidence is increasing. It is associated with poor obstetric outcomes for both mother and baby. Many women with gestational diabetes are overweight or obese. This project uses a medically supervised, calorie controlled diet in pregnancies complicated by gestational diabetes with the aim of determining whether gestational diabetes can be can be entirely reversed. We have already demonstrated this in type 2 diabetes. The potential underlying mechanism is important, and magnetic resonance spectroscopy, a safe technique in pregnancy, will be used to quantify the dietary effect on maternal metabolism. Qualitative research methods will be used to explore women's reaction to the diet and the boundaries to diet that may be encountered during the study. The results of the study may lead to curative therapy for women with gestational diabetes.

  • REC name

    North East - Newcastle & North Tyneside 2 Research Ethics Committee

  • REC reference

    14/NE/1085

  • Date of REC Opinion

    4 Nov 2014

  • REC opinion

    Favourable Opinion