Project summary
Pregnant women with early-onset type 2 diabetes are 3-4 times more likely to have stillbirth and newborn death than women without diabetes. Currently, there are limited self-management programmes available to support people with early-onset type 2 diabetes - and even less for pregnant women with the condition. Professor Meek wants to design a new self-management programme for this group to provide vital support before, during, and after pregnancy to protect the health of mothers and their babies.
Background to research
The number of people developing type 2 diabetes under the age of 40 is rising. This is known as early-onset type 2 diabetes. Pregnant women with the condition have a higher risk of pregnancy complications, like miscarriages, stillbirths, and neonatal deaths.
Studies have shown that self-management programmes can help people with type 2 diabetes to improve their health. But there isn’t a programme designed specifically for pregnant women with early-onset type 2 diabetes, who have unique needs and challenges.
Research aims
Professor Claire Meek will adapt an online self-management programme for people with early-onset type 2 diabetes to suit pregnant women with the condition.
First, she’ll find out which factors most increase the risk of pregnancy complications in women with early onset type 2 diabetes. She’ll study 400 women across 30 UK hospitals and look at how things like diet, exercise, weight, and mood impact on blood sugar levels and pregnancy health.
She’ll use this information, alongside feedback from women with early-onset type 2 diabetes, to develop a new self-management programme designed to help them lower their risks and improve pregnancy outcomes.
Finally, she’ll test the programme for the first time with women with early-onset type 2 diabetes who are pregnant or planning pregnancy. The researchers will recruit 50 women - half will try out the new programme and the other half will continue with standard NHS care. She'll see if it improves the women's short-term health and reduces risks of pregnancy complications. This information will help the researchers to design a larger future study to fully test the programme’s effectiveness.
Potential benefit to people with diabetes
Early-onset type 2 diabetes in pregnancy can place mothers and babies at risk of serious diabetes-related complications. By developing a new self-management programme tailored to their needs, Professor Meek’s project hopes to provide vital support and easily accessible information to give pregnant women with early-onset type 2 diabetes the tools they need to manage their condition and have a safe pregnancy and healthy baby.
