Effectiveness of a Family-based Health Promotion Intervention for Women With Prior GDM: The Face-It RCT

Area of Science:

• Reproductive Health
• Metabolic Disorders
• Public Health Interventions

Background:

• Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) significantly elevates the risk of developing type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) later in life.
• Effective and practical interventions to mitigate this post-GDM T2DM risk are currently limited.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the efficacy of a family-centered health promotion program in reducing T2DM risk factors and enhancing quality of life for women recently diagnosed with GDM.

Main Methods:

• A multicenter, randomized controlled trial with a 2:1 allocation ratio was conducted across three Danish sites.
• Participants included women diagnosed with GDM, randomized to either the intervention group or usual care.
• The intervention comprised home visits with tailored family counseling, digital health coaching, and structured inter-sectoral communication.

Main Results:

• The intervention group (n=184) did not show a statistically significant reduction in body mass index (BMI) or improvement in quality of life (SF12 MCS) compared to the usual care group (n=93) at 1-year follow-up.
• A post-hoc analysis revealed a significant BMI reduction in the intervention subgroup of women with a baseline BMI ≥25 kg/m2.
• Secondary outcome analyses indicated significant reductions in 2-hour insulin levels and triglycerides, along with decreased odds of elevated fasting plasma glucose in the intervention group.

Conclusions:

• The family-based health promotion intervention did not achieve its primary goals of reducing BMI or improving quality of life in women with recent GDM.
• However, the intervention demonstrated potential in mitigating other T2DM risk factors and showed a positive effect on BMI among overweight participants.