Plain English Summary
Background and study aims
In pregnancy, some women are unable to process glucose (sugar) properly - this is referred to as gestational diabetes mellitus. It is a condition that is present only in pregnancy and the glucose levels usually return to normal after the birth of the baby. Gestational diabetes mellitus is linked with an increased risk of complications to both the baby (large baby, shoulder getting stuck in the birth canal and stillbirth) and the mother (prolonged labour). It is therefore important to screen and diagnose the condition, and early diagnosis and management has been shown to reduce the complications by up to 60%. Currently, at 24-28 weeks women with a risk factor (body mass index greater than 30 kg/m2, family history of diabetes in a first degree relative, previous history of diabetes or previous large baby i.e. birth weight >4.5 kg) are offered an oral glucose tolerance test (a glucose drink) with blood samples taken before and 2 hours after the drink. In this study the same test (oral glucose tolerance test) is done but at an earlier stage of pregnancy (at 16-18 weeks) in addition to the recommended test at 24-28 weeks to see if this new test is able to diagnose the condition at an earlier stage in pregnancy. Additional blood samples are also taken for measurement of beta cell function. The beta cells of the pancreas are responsible for controlling blood sugar by secretion of insulin. They also secrete very small amounts of proinsulin (which is normally converted to insulin inside the beta cells). Proinsulin is normally released in small quantities but concentrations increase with the onset of diabetes before glucose levels rise. The aim of this study is to find out whether measurement of the concentration of proinsulin provides an earlier and accurate means of identifying gestational diabetes mellitus.
Who can participate?
Pregnant women at least 18 years of age at 16-18 weeks of pregnancy with any one of the following: body mass index greater than 30 kg/m2, family history of diabetes in a first degree relative, previous history of diabetes or previous large baby i.e. birth weight >4.5 kg
What does the study involve?
This study involves three visits for participants at different stages of pregnancy. At visit 1 (16-18 weeks of pregnancy) participants fast overnight and an oral glucose tolerance test is conducted, with blood samples taken at 0, 30, 60 and 120 minutes after consumption of a glucose drink. Visit 2 (24 - 28 weeks of pregnancy) is the same as visit 1 and includes an oral glucose tolerance test after an overnight fast. At visit 3 (6 weeks after delivery) participants are asked to attend after fasting overnight and have a fasting blood sample taken. Additional data are collected including birth weight of the baby, Apgar score at birth and medications including insulin doses before birth.
What are the possible benefits and risks of participating?
If this test does prove useful, in future pregnant women can potentially be diagnosed with gestational diabetes mellitus at an earlier stage, reducing the risk of complications. It is not expected that participating in this study will cause any problems, but as blood samples are taken participants may experience bleeding, discomfort, bruising, infection or inflammation where the blood is taken or dizziness and feeling faint.
Where is the study run from?
Swansea University (UK)
When is the study starting and how long is it expected to run for?
October 2017 to August 2020
Who is funding the study?
Abertawe Bro Morgannwg University Health Board (UK)
Who is the main contact?
Sarah Dowrick
sarah.c.dowrick@swansea.ac.uk
Trial website
Contact information
Type
Public
Primary contact
Miss Sarah Dowrick
ORCID ID
Contact details
Diabetes Research Unit Cymru
Grove Building
Swansea University
Swansea
SA2 8PP
United Kingdom
+44 (0)1792 602590
sarah.c.dowrick@swansea.ac.uk
Additional identifiers
EudraCT number
ClinicalTrials.gov number
Protocol/serial number
1.0
Study information
Scientific title
Proinsulin in the diagnosis and risk stratification of gestational diabetes mellitus
Acronym
Study hypothesis
The primary objective of this study is to test the hypothesis that fasting proinsulin measurements at 16-18 weeks gestation will discriminate/risk stratify gestational diabetes from women with normal glucose tolerance.
Ethics approval
Wales REC 6, 06/07/2017, ref: 17/WA/0194
Study design
Observational cross-sectional pilot study
Primary study design
Observational
Secondary study design
Cross sectional study
Trial setting
Hospitals
Trial type
Diagnostic
Patient information sheet
Not available in web format, please use the contact details to request a patient information sheet
Condition
Gestational diabetes mellitus
Intervention
This study will involve three visits for participants, at different stages of gestation.
Visit 1 (16-18 weeks gestation): participants will be asked to attend at 16-18 weeks gestation, having fasted overnight. An oral glucose tolerance test will be conducted, with blood samples taken at 0, 30, 60 and 120 mins following consumption of a glucose drink.
Visit 2 (24 - 28 weeks gestation): this will be the same as visit one and include an oral glucose tolerance test after an overnight fast.
Visit 3 (6 weeks post delivery): participants will be asked to attend having fasted overnight and will have a fasting blood sample taken. Additional data including birth weight of the baby, Apgar score at birth and medications including insulin doses prior to birth will be collected.
Intervention type
Other
Phase
Drug names
Primary outcome measure
Circulating concentration of fasting total and intact proinsulin at 16-18 weeks gestation
Secondary outcome measures
1. Diagnosis of gestational diabetes mellitus as established by glucose measurements following an oral glucose tolerance test at 24-28 weeks
2. Need for insulin during the pregnancy obtained from clinical notes
3. Relationship between individual risk factors and proinsulin for the development of gestational diabetes mellitus, measured using logistic regression at 16-18 weeks
Overall trial start date
01/10/2017
Overall trial end date
01/08/2020
Reason abandoned (if study stopped)
Eligibility
Participant inclusion criteria
Pregnant women at least 18 years of age at 16-18 weeks gestation with any one of the following:
1. BMI >30kg/m2
2. Previous macrosomic baby (>4.5kg)
3. Previous gestational diabetes mellitus
4. Family history of type 2 diabetes mellitus (first degree relative with diabetes)
Participant type
Patient
Age group
Adult
Gender
Female
Target number of participants
200
Participant exclusion criteria
1. Subjects unable or unwilling to sign informed consent
2. Known previous diabetes mellitus or treatment with metformin
3. Known chronic infection like Hepatitis or HIV or chronic kidney, liver or heart disease
4. Previous bariatric surgery
Recruitment start date
16/10/2017
Recruitment end date
01/08/2020
Locations
Countries of recruitment
United Kingdom
Trial participating centre
Joint Clinical Research Facility
Institute of Life Sciences 2
Swansea University
Swansea
SA2 8PP
United Kingdom
Funders
Funder type
Hospital/treatment centre
Funder name
Abertawe Bro Morgannwg University Health Board
Alternative name(s)
Funding Body Type
Funding Body Subtype
Location
Results and Publications
Publication and dissemination plan
Planned publication in a high-impact peer reviewed journal.
IPD sharing statement
The data sharing plans for the current study are unknown and will be made available at a later date.
Intention to publish date
01/08/2021
Participant level data
To be made available at a later date
Basic results (scientific)
Publication list