Study aims to prevent gestational diabetes

by Chris Jagger © New Times
Cal Poly’s kinesiology department and Sierra Vista Regional Medical Center’s Sweet Success Program are collaborating on a study delving into new theories about the prevention of gestational diabetes (GDM).GDM is a form of diabetes that women develop during pregnancy. Though GDM is a temporary disease that normally goes away after pregnancy, women who have it are at risk for difficult delivery and are 35 to 70 percent more likely to develop type 2 diabetes within 15 years of the birth of their child. Children born to a mother with GDM are more likely to develop health issues, including obesity and type 2 diabetes.The new study, the Gestational Diabetes Prevention Program, begins this month. It will test whether losing weight prior to pregnancy is an effective way to prevent the occurrence of GDM.“To date there are no studies that have been particularly looking at preventing of GDM with weight loss before pregnancy,” project manager and nutritionist Anna Brannen said. “In preventing it we are looking at preventing problems for the mothers and children.
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