XClose

GACD

Leading research collaborations on chronic diseases

Menu

Diabetes Research Programme - DM16

A lifestyle intervention program for the prevention of type 2 diabetes mellitus among South Asian women with gestational diabetes mellitus

Project locations: Bangladesh, India and Sri Lanka

Funding organisations

Card 31.jpg

Primary research aim

To determine whether a resource- and culturally-appropriate lifestyle intervention program in South Asian countries, provided to women with gestational diabetes after delivery, will reduce the incidence of type 2 diabetes, in a manner that is affordable, acceptable and scalable.

Secondary research aims

To determine the effects of the intervention on intermediate biological outcomes and lifestyle behaviours, as well as the proportion of women with a change in glucose metabolism status.

Research objectives and methodology

We have taken the learnings from previous diabetes prevention programs to develop a new lifestyle program that has a high probability of being feasible, acceptable and cost-effective in the South Asian context for women with prior GDM. We will optimise this intervention using an iterative, systems-based and user-centred approach. The intervention will be delivered by auxiliary nurse midwives or their equivalent in each participating hospital, representing a strategy of within-system task-shifting. We will then evaluate the intervention in a randomised controlled trial (1414 women from 24 centres) to determine whether it will reduce the incidence of T2DM at a median of 20 months follow-up. This project focuses on generating new knowledge around implementation of a preventive strategy embedded within existing health systems, using mixed-methods evaluation to inform on cost-effectiveness, acceptability and scalability. It incorporates a science component (a program based on behaviour change theory that supports a multi-level approach to prevention by combining individually targeted strategies with social support), a social component (an innovative workforce strategy) and a sustainability component (a systems perspective for integration with existing health system infrastructure).


Project contact: Anushka Patel - apatel@george.org.au

Investigators

PIs

Research team