Healthy Gut Diet for preventing gestational diabetes study

A researcher is calling for pregnant Queensland women to come forward and take part in a groundbreaking study aimed at preventing gestational diabetes.

The Healthy Gut Diet study aims to investigate how a healthy diet may reduce the risk of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM).

Queensland Advancing Clinical Research Fellow Dr Nina Meloncelli and University of Queensland PhD candidate Hannah O’Conner are seeking women who are less than 18-weeks gestation and who have one or more common gestational diabetes risk factors to participate in the study. These risk factors include:

• Previous gestational diabetes mellitus history,

• A baby who weighed more than 4000g at birth,

• A first degree relative with type 2 or gestational diabetes,

• Or a pre-pregnancy body mass index greater than 25.

“One in seven pregnant women are diagnosed with GDM in Queensland and this number is even higher amongst women with the common risk factors,’’ Dr Meloncelli said.

“Recent evidence has shown that women with gestational diabetes have a different gut microbiome to women without gestational diabetes.

“In fact, their gut biome is more similar to the non-pregnant population with type 2 diabetes.

“This led us to ask the question of whether or not we could change the gut microbiome in pregnancy through diet and would this be successful in preventing gestational diabetes in high risk women.

“So, we have devised a special dietary intervention that was codesigned with women who have a lived experience of gestational diabetes.’’

Dr Meloncelli, a two times GDM mum herself, said the diet intervention was designed with busy mums in mind and was delivered virtually.

“We are very keen to get as many suitable women as possible with the relevant risk factors involved,’’ she said.

“Once you register your interest, our research team will get touch to talk through whether the study is right for you.’’

Interested pregnant women with one or more GDM risk factors can register their interest to join the study via this link: www.redcap.link/HGD