Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (GDM) is a significant predictor of pregnancy complications and lifetime risk of chronic diseases such as Type 2 Diabetes (T2DM).
Unsurprisingly, women who have experienced GDM are at increased risk of recurrent GDM in subsequent pregnancies, particularly if they are overweight or obese.
Research suggests that recurrent GDM can be mitigated by lifestyle modification, particularly weight loss. Postpartum women often encounter challenges to attending tradition face-to-face weight loss interventions, and thus telephone or internet based support might be a more effective way of accessing this population. Young women in their reproductive years are frequent users of the internet, social media and smartphone apps.
This project is led by Katie Edwards and forms part of her PhD. The project aims to understand if eHealth tools, such as apps, are an appropriate and engaging way to deliver support to women who have experienced GDM, to help them make healthy changes during the interconception and postpartum periods.
Katie is pursuing her PhD with the School of Nursing and Midwifery alongside working as a Research Assistant for the eHealth Productivity In Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly project (EPIC).
