Mobile Health Interventions in Gestational Diabetes Mellitus and Pregnancy Outcomes: A Scoping Review

Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), one of the rising epidemics in pregnancies worldwide, is defined as glucose intolerance that is first recognised during pregnancy. GDM is associated with adverse maternal and fetal outcomes, including pre-eclampsia, caesarean delivery, and macrosomia. Mobile health (mHealth) interventions have emerged as promising tools for managing GDM, enabling remote monitoring, education, and communication. Hence, the present study was undertaken to map the nature of the use of mHealth interventions in GDM and report pregnancy outcomes based on the available literature. The scoping review was conducted following a systematic search for studies in PubMed, ScienceDirect, and Google Scholar databases in the last five years (2019-2024) that investigated an mHealth app intervention for mothers with GDM and reported maternal or fetal outcomes. Both randomised controlled trials (RCTs) and observational studies were included. A total of seven studies were included in this review, of which four were randomised trials and three were observational studies. The types of mHealth interventions varied widely, including mobile applications, SMS-based platforms, wearable devices, and teleconsultation systems. An RCT (China, 2019) reported that a nurse-guided smartphone app significantly improved glucose control and reduced weight gain in patients with GDM compared with usual care. Further, a study (Sweden, 2021) reported improved glycaemic control and compliance. Another trial (Slovenia, 2023) showed that a comprehensive telemedicine programme led to better postprandial glucose control and fewer caesarean deliveries. A Swiss trial (MySweetheart trial, 2024) combining app-based and telehealth coaching reduced gestational weight gain. The study revealed that app-based intervention such as mHealth showed potential to support glucose monitoring, weight management, improvement in pregnancy outcomes, and patient engagement in GDM.