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Glucose Empowerment Through Monitoring and Social Support in Pregnancy

Real-time Continuous Glucose Monitoring and Mobile-based Social Support to Promote Glucose Management During Pregnancy

Status
Recruiting
Phases
NA
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT07009704
Acronym
GEMS-P
Enrollment
70
Registered
2025-06-08
Start date
2025-07-01
Completion date
2026-07-31
Last updated
2025-09-22

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

Conditions

Gestational Diabetes, Pregnancy, Complications

Keywords

pregnancy, gestational diabetes, GDM, intervention, hyperglycemia, group chat, continuous glucose monitoring, mobile-based, behavioral change, CGM

Brief summary

The purpose of the research is to learn whether wearing a continuous glucose monitor that shows blood glucose levels in real time on a smart phone app and participating in a group chat with other research participants will help participants keep a healthy blood glucose level during pregnancy. High levels of blood glucose during pregnancy can lead to health problems during and after pregnancy. It may also increase the risk for health problems for the developing baby. The investigators think our program might be a new way to help some people maintain a healthy blood glucose level during pregnancy. When pregnant people know their blood glucose levels are high, they can do things like exercise or drink water to bring their blood glucose levels down. They can also learn what foods to eat to maintain healthy blood glucose levels, and what foods to avoid. The investigators think being in a group chat with other pregnant individuals will allow participants to support and learn from each other. Pregnant individuals should also work with their healthcare providers to manage their blood glucose levels.

Interventions

BEHAVIORALMobile-based social support

Participants will be invited to join an encrypted group chat where they will be encouraged to provide and receive social support related to glucose management during early pregnancy. Other study participants and study team members will be in the group chat.

Participants will receive a real-time continuous glucose monitor that pairs with an existing smartphone app that shows minute-by-minute glucose levels and records glucose levels in 5 minute increments.

Sponsors

Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD)
CollaboratorNIH
National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS)
CollaboratorNIH
Tufts Medical Center
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
PREVENTION
Masking
NONE

Intervention model description

Participants will be randomly assigned to one of two groups. Group 1 will receive real-time continuous glucose monitoring plus mobile-based social support. Group 2 will only receive real-time continuous glucose monitoring.

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
FEMALE
Age
18 Years to 45 Years
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

* Pregnant (\<20w0d) * At least 18 years to 45 years old * BMI \>25, personal history of GDM, or first-degree family member with type II diabetes * Comfortable conversing in English * Own a smartphone and willing to use the CGM app and Signal * Receiving prenatal care and planning to deliver at Tufts Medicine (Boston) * Signed the consent form * Currently located in the United States

Exclusion criteria

* Current pregnancy a multiple gestation (e.g., twins) * Smoked during this current pregnancy * Active hepatitis or HIV infection * Current pregnancy have any documented fetal congenital anomalies * Current history of heroin, cocaine, crack, LSD, or methamphetamines * Current history of alcohol abuse * Previous gastric bypass * Shift work that alters the sleep/wake periods * Have known rheumatological or chronic inflammatory state (i.e., arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease)? * Chronic illnesses, including diabetes and dialysis, that require regular medication use * Uncontrolled hypothyroidism * Known culture of positive chorioamnionitis? * An adult who is unable to consent (e.g., cognitively impaired adults) * Ward of the state * Unable to read or write English

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Self-efficacy for glucose managementBaseline, Day 3 of CGM, Day 7 of CGM, Day 14 of CGM, Day 60 of studySelf-efficacy will be adapted from a validated survey of self-efficacy for type II diabetes management (DMSES UK)

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Motivation for glucose managementBaseline, Day 3 of CGM, Day 7 of CGM, Day 14 of CGM, Day 60 of studyAssessed using items from the Treatment Self-Regulation Questionnaire (TSRQ)
Pregnancy-specific stressBaseline, Day 60 of study participationPregnancy-specific stress will be measured (via questionnaire) using a validated scale that was empirically associated with birth outcomes
Social supportBaseline, Day 3 of CGM, Day 7 of CGM, Day 14 of CGM, Day 30 of group chat participation, Day 60 of study participationA social support survey was adapted from the validated Inventory of Socially Supportive Behaviors (ISSB) that assess multiple subtypes of social support (emotional, informational, instrumental/tangible, belonging, appraisal)
Pre-natal care satisfactionBaseline, Day 60 of study completionPrenatal care satisfaction will be assessed using a combination of questions from Raube and colleague's validated questionnaire and the Mother's Autonomy in Decision Making (MADM) scale. The combination of questionnaires is scored as Excellent, Good, Average, Poor, N/A.

Countries

United States

Contacts

Primary ContactLarissa Calancie, PhD
larissa.calancie@tufts.edu(617) 636-0976

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026