Avoiding Diabetes After Pregnancy Trial in Moms

Women diagnosed with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) are a readily identifiable population at high risk for type 2 diabetes (T2DM) to whom preventive interventions can be offered. There is evidence that T2DM can be prevented with lifestyle modification in older high-risk risk groups. However, preventive trials for women with recent GDM have had limited success in preventing T2DM, in part because they have failed to produce significant behaviour change. New mothers are a unique population with many competing demands and barriers to behaviour change. Home-based health coaching programs may be more effective in women with recent GDM, as they provide greater flexibility, goal-setting, and frequent follow-up, and have been associated with greater adherence and weight loss. Low glycemic-index diets are also associated with greater adherence and improved glycemia, but data are lacking in women with recent GDM. The ADAPT-M (Avoiding Diabetes after Pregnancy Trial in moms) study will address these gaps by evaluating a home-based exercise and diet intervention that has been designed specifically for new mothers with recent GDM. An internationally renowned team of investigators and collaborators was brought together to create this intervention. This trial has been carefully designed based on our previous work, an extensive literature review, and the input from co-investigators with expertise in diabetes research, gestational diabetes, prenatal and postpartum care, diabetes education programs, home-based exercise coaching, nutrition and diet interventions, and clinical trials. Investigators will work closely with the Clinical Trials Unit of the Applied Health Research Centre (AHRC) of University of Toronto to develop, implement, and evaluate this trial. This study is important because it addresses a crucial missed opportunity for diabetes prevention in a well-defined, high-risk population. This intervention is unique because it has been specifically tailored to optimize behaviour change by meeting the needs of new mothers. The findings from this study will have implications for diabetes caregivers, policy-makers, and researchers. This work will benefit women with prior GDM and their families by offering a much-needed effective and sustainable program aimed at reducing their risk of diabetes and improving long-term health.