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DIVINE – Pilot Trial: A phase 2 multicentre, randomised interventional trial in women with a history of gestational diabetes

DIVINE – Pilot Trial: A phase 2 multicentre, randomised interventional trial in overweight or obese women with a history of gestational diabetes

Status
Recruiting
Phases
Phase 2
Study type
Interventional
Source
ANZCTR
Registry ID
ACTRN12624001253594
Enrollment
17
Registered
2024-10-14
Start date
2025-09-24
Completion date
2026-12-01
Last updated
2026-09-14

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

None listed

Brief summary

The primary aim is to assess the effect of metformin versus metformin and semaglutide on absolute change in body weight over 6 months with women with a recent history of Gestational Diabetes Mellitus who are overweight or obese. We also assess the efficacy of a physical activity intervention of wearable activity monitors on increasing activity levels (minutes per week) in these women. Secondary aims include assessing the acceptability, tolerability and safety of metformin with/without semaglutide. In addition, we will examine changes in outcomes at 12 months. Hypothesis Among women with Body Mass Index (BMI) is greater than or equal to 25kg/m2 with a history of a Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (GDM)-affected pregnancy: 1. 6 months treatment with metformin and semaglutide will result in greater persistent weight loss compared to treatment with metformin alone. 2. A monitor-based physical activity intervention will result in higher mean activity levels at 6 months, compared to no physical activity intervention.

Interventions

A 6-months multi-centre, randomised, interventional trial in women with a history of Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (GDM) with persisting dysglycaemia who are overweight or obese, with a further 6 months follow-up (12-month total study duration – 6 months active intervention, 6 months additional follow-up). This is a 2x2 factorial design with an active metformin run-in. For the active pharmacotherapy intervention, participants will be randomised (1:1) to metformin up to 1000mg/day and semaglut

A 6-months multi-centre, randomised, interventional trial in women with a history of Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (GDM) with persisting dysglycaemia who are overweight or obese, with a further 6 months follow-up (12-month total study duration – 6 months active intervention, 6 months additional follow-up). This is a 2x2 factorial design with an active metformin run-in. For the active pharmacotherapy intervention, participants will be randomised (1:1) to metformin up to 1000mg/day and semaglutide (up to 1.0mg/week) or metformin up to 1000mg/day and no semaglutide for 6 months. The patient will start with 0.25mg of semaglutide, given once per week through a prefilled self-injection pen. The pen is injected under the skin (subcutaneously) weekly, and will be up-titrated 0.25mg weekly, to a maximum of 1mg by week 4. Face-to-face meetings between trial staff and participants once per week within 4 weeks of first randomisation. A second randomisation will occur for the physical activity intervention (1:1) to a physical activity intervention or no physical activity intervention. The participants and Accredited Exercise Physiologist will meet once only. Instruction of how to use the Garmin (monitoring device) will be given by an Accredited Exercise Physiologist. There will be a 2-week active run in: • 500 mg daily metformin sustained release (SR) for 1 week • 1000 mg daily metformin sustained release (SR) for 1 week The patient will start with a 250 mg sustained release weekly, drug to be taken orally daily. The dose will be up-titrated to 500 mg metformin sustained release will be given daily for 7 days. If the patient can tolerate the 500 mg dosage, then 1000 mg metformin sustained release will be given daily for 7 days. If the patient cannot tolerate the 1000 mg metformin sustained release daily, down-titration to 500 mg dosage daily is allowed. Mode of administration of metformin: oral. Following active run-in, all participants who can tolerate and are compliant with 80% or above of the study drug will be eligible for study entry. They will continue metformin (maximum tolerated dose up to 1000g daily), and randomised 1:1:1:1 into each of the following intervention groups: • ARM1 (metformin up to 1000mg/day and no semaglutide + physical activity intervention) • ARM2 (metformin up to 1000mg/day and no semaglutide + physical activity control) • ARM3 (metformin up to 1000mg/day and semaglutide up to 1.0mg/week + physical activity intervention) • ARM4 (metformin up to 1000mg/day and semaglutide up to 1.0mg/week + physical activity control) All participants will wear an activity monitor (Garmin) throughout the intervention. The physical activity intervention group will have consistent activity feedback via the activity monitor. Feedback will include steps, minutes of activity, calories burnt, etc. The trial is requesting participants full time, throughout the intervention. The physical activity control group will not receive activity feedback and the monitor will be set to only show time. All participants will be provided with one individual session with an Accredited Exercise Physiologist (AEP) within 2 weeks of randomisation. During this session, they will be provided with individualised support to increase physical activity and reduce sedentary behaviour. They will be advised to increase their physical activity by 10% each week until they meet the National Health and Medical Research Council guidelines on physical activity in adults (150 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise or equivalent). These sessions will be held only once either face to face or via Zoom/MS Teams and will last approximately 2 hours. The feedbacks that the patient will receive: number of steps per day taken by the subject, minutes of physical activity taken daily. The participant will be asked to wear the Garmin Connect device continuously throughout the intervention period which is 6 months. All participants will also be provided with nutritional information from Diabetes Australia in written and verbal form from research study staff for the prevention of type 2 diabetes. Information will be provided to the participants verbally face-to-face. All participants will be followed up at 6 months at the end of intervention phase and again at 12 months. Throughout the trial, participants will be monitored by study sites and the Medical Monitor will conduct ongoing monitoring as appropriate for the trial. Device analytics can be sought if needed to ensure adherence to wearing the activity tracking device.

A 6-months multi-centre, randomised, interventional trial in women with a history of Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (GDM) who are overweight or obese, with a further 6 months follow-up (12-month total study duration – 6 months active intervention, 6 months additional follow-up). This is a 2x2 factorial design with an active metformin run-in. For the active pharmacotherapy intervention, participants will be randomised (1:1) to metformin up to 1000mg/day and semaglutide (up to 1.0mg/week) or met

A 6-months multi-centre, randomised, interventional trial in women with a history of Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (GDM) who are overweight or obese, with a further 6 months follow-up (12-month total study duration – 6 months active intervention, 6 months additional follow-up). This is a 2x2 factorial design with an active metformin run-in. For the active pharmacotherapy intervention, participants will be randomised (1:1) to metformin up to 1000mg/day and semaglutide (up to 1.0mg/week) or metformin up to 1000mg/day and no semaglutide for 6 months. A second randomisation will occur for the physical activity intervention (1:1) to a physical activity intervention or no physical activity intervention. There will be a 2-week active run in: • 500 mg daily metformin sustained release (SR) for 1 week • 1000 mg daily metformin sustained release (SR) for 1 week Following active run-in, all participants who can tolerate and are compliant with = 80% of the study drug will be eligible for study entry. They will continue metformin (maximum tolerated dose up to 1000g daily), and randomised 1:1:1:1 into each of the following intervention groups: • ARM1 (metformin up to 1000mg/day and no semaglutide + physical activity intervention) • ARM2 (metformin up to 1000mg/day and no semaglutide + physical activity control) • ARM3 (metformin up to 1000mg/day and semaglutide up to 1.0mg/week + physical activity intervention) • ARM4 (metformin up to 1000mg/day and semaglutide up to 1.0mg/week + physical activity control) All participants will wear an activity monitor (Garmin) throughout the intervention. The physical activity intervention group will have consistent activity feedback via the activity monitor. The physical activity control group will not receive activity feedback and the monitor will be set to only show time. All participants will be provided with one individual session with an Accredited Exercise Physiologist (AEP) within 2 weeks of randomisation. During this session, they will be provided with individualised support to increase physical activity and reduce sedentary behaviour. They will be advised to increase their physical activity by 10% each week until they meet the National Health and Medical Research Council guidelines on physical activity in adults (150 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise or equivalent). All participants will also be provided with nutritional information from Diabetes Australia in written and verbal form from research study staff for the prevention of type 2 diabetes. All participants will be followed up at 6 months at the end of intervention phase and again at 12 months.

Sponsors

The George Institute for Global Health
Lead SponsorOther

Study design

Allocation
Randomised controlled trial
Primary purpose
Treatment
Masking
Open (masking not used)

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
All
Age
18 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

The trial will include women with a history of GDM (within the last 5 years) with persisting dysglycaemia who are overweight or obese. The main inclusion criteria are: 1. Aged 18 years or above; 2. At least 3 months post-partum; 3. Biochemical evidence of persisting post-partum dysglycaemia in the last 12 months as defined by: a. Fasting plasma glucose 6.1 to 6.9 mmol/L; and/or b. 2-hour blood glucose 7.8 to 11.0 mmol/L on 75g oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT); and/or c. HbA1c 6.0 to 6.4% (HbA1c performed at least 3 months post-partum). 4. Body mass index greater than or equal to 25 kg/m2; 5. eGFR greater than or equal to 45 ml/min/1.73m2; 6. Willing to take a pregnancy test prior to starting treatment and during follow-up; 7. Willing to wear an activity monitor (Garmin) for the duration of the study; 8. Have access to smart mobile phone or tablet to enable Garmin Connect App; 9. Able to provide written informed consent by signing the consent form. Women who are currently treated with metformin for dysglycaemia will be eligible to participate in the study.

Exclusion criteria

Women will be ineligible if: 1. They are currently pregnant, breast-feeding or actively planning pregnancy; 2. They have known Type 2 Diabetes (T2D), type 1 diabetes or any other forms of current diabetes; 3. They have a history of bariatric surgery (e.g., gastric bypass, gastric sleeve, gastric banding) 4. There is known intolerance to metformin or there is current absolute contraindication for metformin therapy, absolute contraindications to metformin are as follows a. Severe renal impairment defined as eGFR less than 30 ml/minute/1.73m2, b. Known hypersensitivity to metformin, c. Acute or chronic metabolic acidosis, including diabetes ketoacidosis, with or without coma; 5. There is known intolerance or allergy to semaglutide, current use of a semaglutide or another Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor (GLP1-RA) or known personal or family history of medullary thyroid cancer or multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2 gene;. 6. They have received treatment with any other medication for the indication of overweight or obesity within the last 90 days including phentermine (Duromine and Metermine), orlistat (Xenical) and naltrexone-burpronorphone (Contrave); 7. They have previous or planned (during the trial period) obesity treatment with surgery or weight loss device; 8. They are unwilling to use the International Council for Harmonisation of Technical Requirements for Registration of Pharmaceuticals for Human Use (ICH)-defined “highly effective” contraception; 9. They are unable to engage in physical activity; 10. There is known inability to give informed consent to participate due to severe active mental health issues or major developmental disability as identified through the maternity database.

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ANZCTR · Data processed: Sep 19, 2026