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Determining the Effect of Food Ordering on Blood Glucose In Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (DEFI-GDM)

Determining the Effect of Food Ordering on Blood Glucose In Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (DEFI-GDM) - a Randomised Crossover Study

Status
Recruiting
Phases
Unknown
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT06896799
Acronym
DEFI-GDM
Enrollment
35
Registered
2025-03-26
Start date
2025-12-11
Completion date
2027-02-01
Last updated
2026-08-12

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

Conditions

Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (GDM)

Keywords

Gestational Diabetes Mellitus, Post-prandial glycaemia, Food Ordering

Brief summary

The goal of this clinical trial is to determine whether the sequence of macronutrient consumption affects post-prandial glycaemia in women with gestational diabetes mellitus. The main questions it aims to answer are: * The difference in the magnitude of postprandial rise in blood glucose between the two test meals as measured by Flash Glucose Monitoring (FGM) sensor, alongside blood/serum glucose from collected intravenous blood samples and finger prick results. * The difference in the magnitude of postprandial change in serum levels of gut hormones between the two test meals. * The difference in mean change in pre-post ingestion satiety scores between the two test meals. * The difference in 24 hour energy and macronutrient intake following the two test meals. Participants will attend two study visits at the Centre for Public Health, with an interval of at least two days between the visits and complete the following, anthropometric measurements, demographic and appetite questionnaires, glucose measurements, two food diaries and fasting blood samples and the consumption of the study breakfast. Participants will be asked to eat either the protein/fat-based component of the meal (scrambled egg) before or after the carbohydrate-based component (wholemeal toast) on their first visit and on the other visit they will be asked to eat the meal in the reverse order. The order in which this occurs will be randomised and each participant will act as their own control. Researchers will compare the results from participants between the two test meals to see if the order of macronutrient consumption has any effect on post-prandial glycaemia, gut hormones, satiety scores and energy and macronutrient intake.

Detailed description

Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is glucose intolerance with onset or first diagnosis during pregnancy, affecting around 1 in 10 pregnancies in the United Kingdom (UK). Women with GDM are 10 times more likely to develop type 2 DM and twice as likely to develop cardiovascular disease in later life than women without GDM. Dietary modification is recommended as first line management to optimise blood glucose control. However, this often fails, necessitating the use of medication such as metformin and insulin. There is a pressing need to find safe and effective dietary approaches to optimise glycaemic control in GDM which can be easily adhered to in order to improve longer-term outcomes. The impact of the sequence of macronutrients on glycaemic control is an emerging area of interest. Recent evidence suggests that the consumption of the fat/protein components of a meal prior to the carbohydrate components, reduces the peak by around 40% after food. This study aims to determine whether the order that macronutrients (i.e. protein, fat, carbohydrate) are eaten affects; blood sugar glucose levels in the blood after a meal, appetite, food intake and the release of hormones in the body, in women with GDM. Pregnant women with GDM, aged 18-50 years old who are between 24-37 weeks pregnant are eligible for the study. Women are not eligible if they have a history of type 1 or 2 diabetes, any clinically confirmed food allergies, taking medication for GDM at point of study entry, severe nausea, using anti-sickness medication or any other problems that would substantially limit ability to complete study requirements. Recruitment will be via antenatal clinics in the South-Eastern Health and Social Care Trust (SEHSCT) and also via social media. Participants will attend the Centre for Public Health on two occasions (maximum 2 weeks between visits) and will involve the collection of demographic information, weight and height measurements, blood samples, glucose measurements, consumption of study breakfast, and completion of two 1-day food diaries. Participants will be asked to eat either the protein/fat-based component of the meal (scrambled egg) before or after the carbohydrate-based component (wholemeal toast) on their first visit and on the other visit they will be asked to eat the meal in the reverse order. The order in which this occurs will be randomised and each participant will act as their own control. Scrambled egg was chosen as the protein and fat will be homogenously distributed (compared to boiled egg, for example). Wholemeal toast was chosen as, although lower glycaemic index and therefore less likely to expeditiously raise blood glucose than toasted white bread, it will be more consistent with the participants' existing dietary needs.

Interventions

OTHERVisit 1: Protein/fat then carbohydrate. Visit 2: Carbohydrate then protein/fat.

Participants who are randomised to eat the protein/fat-based component (scrambled egg) of the meal before the carbohydrate-based component (wholemeal toast) on their first study visit, will be asked to eat the meal in the reverse order at their second study visit. Meals will be prepared by members of the research team who have completed Food Safety training. Participants will be asked to consume a 440kcal breakfast meal within 10 minutes, approximately 1.5 hours after arrival at their first study visit and approximately 30 minutes after arrival at their second study visit.

OTHERVisit 1: Carbohydrate then protein/fat. Visit 2: Protein/fat then carbohydrate.

Participants who are randomised to eat the carbohydrate-based component (wholemeal toast) of the meal before the protein/fat-based component (scrambled egg) on their first study visit, will be asked to eat the meal in the reverse order at their second study visit. Meals will be prepared by members of the research team who have completed Food Safety training. Participants will be asked to consume a 440kcal breakfast meal within 10 minutes, approximately 1.5 hours after arrival at their first study visit and approximately 30 minutes after arrival at their second study visit.

Sponsors

Queen's University, Belfast
Lead SponsorOTHER
Imperial College London
CollaboratorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
CROSSOVER
Primary purpose
OTHER
Masking
NONE

Masking description

It is not possible to blind participants or researchers in this study due to the nature of the nutritional intervention. However, the allocation to each group will be blinded using envelopes.

Intervention model description

This will be a randomised crossover study. Participants will be asked to eat either the protein/fat-based component of the meal (scrambled egg) before or after the carbohydrate-based component (wholemeal toast) on their first visit and on the other visit they will be asked to eat the meal in the reverse order. The order in which this occurs will be randomised and each participant will act as their own control.

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
FEMALE
Age
18 Years to 50 Years
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

* Pregnant women with gestational diabetes mellitus * Aged 18-50 years old * Between 24-37 weeks pregnant

Exclusion criteria

* History of type 1 or type 2 diabetes mellitus * Dietary restrictions or clinically confirmed food allergies that may affect study requirements * Pharmacologically managed GDM at the point of study entry * Hyperemesis gravidarum at the point of study entry (i.e. prolonged/severe nausea and vomiting) * Using antiemetic medication (e.g. dimenhydrinate, prochlorperazine, promethazine) * Any other problems or medical conditions that would substantially limit their ability to complete the study requirements Participants can be recruited onto the study if they have previously had GDM in another pregnancy. Participants can also be recruited if they are involved in other research studies, but this will depend on the study type and the decision will be made by the Chief/Principal Investigator.

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Postprandial GlucoseDifference between Visit 1 [time 0 and 125 minutes] and Visit 2 [time 0 and 125 minutes]The difference in the magnitude of postprandial rise in blood glucose between the two test meals. We will look at interstitial glucose from the FGM sensor alongside blood/serum glucose from collected intravenous blood samples and finger prick results.

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1)Difference between Visit 1 [time 0 and 30 minutes] and Visit 2 [time 0 and 30 minutes]The difference in the magnitude of postprandial change in serum levels of GLP-1 between the two test meals.
Peptide Tyrosine (PYY)Difference between Visit 1 [time 0 and 30 minutes] and Visit 2 [time 0 and 30 minutes]The difference in the magnitude of postprandial change in serum levels of PYY between the two test meals.
Satiety ScoresDifference between Visit 1 [time 0 and 30 minutes] and Visit 2 [time 0 and 30 minutes]The difference in mean change in pre-post ingestion satiety scores between the two test meals, using an appetite visual analogue scale (range 0 - 100) \[The direction of the score will depend on the individual question\].
Nutrient intakeDifference between Visit 1 [time 0 and 24 hours] and Visit 2 [time 0 and 24 hours]The difference in 24 hour energy and macronutrient intake following the two test meals.
InsulinDifference between Visit 1 [time 0 and 30 minutes] and Visit 2 [time 0 and 30 minutes]The difference in the magnitude of postprandial change in serum levels of insulin between the two test meals.
C-PeptideDifference between Visit 1 [time 0 and 30 minutes] and Visit 2 [time 0 and 30 minutes]The difference in the magnitude of postprandial change in serum levels of c-peptide between the two test meals.
Glucagon (GCG)Difference between Visit 1 [time 0 and 30 minutes] and Visit 2 [time 0 and 30 minutes]The difference in the magnitude of postprandial change in serum levels of GCG between the two test meals.
Total GhrelinDifference between Visit 1 [time 0 and 30 minutes] and Visit 2 [time 0 and 30 minutes]The difference in the magnitude of postprandial change in serum levels of total ghrelin between the two test meals.

Countries

United Kingdom

Contacts

CONTACTHannah O'Hara, MBBS BSc PhD DFSRH MRCGP
h.ohara@qub.ac.uk+44 (0) 28 9097 6350
CONTACTDanielle Logan, PhD
d.logan@qub.ac.uk+44 (0) 28 9097 6350
PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATORHannah O'Hara, MBBS BSc PhD DFSRH MRCGP

Queen's University, Belfast

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Aug 13, 2026