Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is a common condition, affecting 5%-10% of pregnancies in the United States, and has important implications for maternal and child health. Poorly controlled GDM can cause adverse fetal outcomes including preterm delivery, neonatal hypoglycemia, and fetal demise, as well as increased maternal risk for preeclampsia, Cesarean sections, and other complications.
The cornerstone of management relies on lifestyle modification and self-monitoring of blood glucose (SMBG), typically 4 times daily. Without the crucial information from SMBG, women and their clinicians cannot work together for optimal glucose control during pregnancy. However, many women have difficulty adhering to this intensive monitoring, and a study found that women with poor adherence to SMBG are more likely to have poor pregnancy outcomes including preeclampsia. Therefore, a mobile health intervention that could improve SMBG in GDM could be very impactful for women’s health.
