Lifestyle Intervention vs Metformin for Gestational Diabetes

(GooDMomS2 Trial)

Recruiting at 1 trial location

Overseen By Jennifer R Gomez Berrospi, MPH

Age: 18 - 65

Sex: Female

Trial Phase: Phase 2

Sponsor: George Washington University

Must not be taking: Weight loss medications

Disqualifiers: Pregnancy, Diabetes, Malignancy, others

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Prior Safety Data This treatment has passed at least one previous human trial

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 7

60 Participants Needed

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial explores the best way to help women with recent gestational diabetes lose weight after giving birth. Researchers are testing a 6-month lifestyle intervention against Metformin, a medication often used for diabetes, to determine which method is more effective for weight loss and health improvement. Women who have had a single baby in the last 12 weeks to a year and experienced gestational diabetes during pregnancy might be suitable candidates. Participants will use tools like a Fitbit and apps to track their progress and may receive personalized health support and grocery delivery. As a Phase 2 trial, this research focuses on measuring the treatment's effectiveness in an initial, smaller group, offering participants a chance to contribute to important findings.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial information does not specify if you need to stop taking your current medications. However, if you are taking weight loss medication, you cannot participate in the trial.

Is there any evidence suggesting that this trial's treatments are likely to be safe?

Past studies have shown that lifestyle changes yield promising results for managing gestational diabetes and improving health. For example, one study found that lifestyle changes reduced the risk of developing diabetes by 34% compared to usual care. Another study demonstrated that lifestyle changes lowered the chance of getting gestational diabetes by 22%. These changes focus on diet and exercise, which are generally safe and easy for most people to follow.

Regarding Metformin, research indicates it is generally safe to use during pregnancy. Studies have found that Metformin does not increase the risk of issues like early labor or low birth weight. It has also been associated with less weight gain during pregnancy compared to other treatments. However, some individuals might experience mild side effects like an upset stomach or diarrhea.

Overall, previous studies have shown both lifestyle changes and Metformin to be safe options. Participants can feel reassured that both treatments have been tested for safety in similar settings. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial's treatments?

Researchers are excited about these treatments because they offer different approaches to managing gestational diabetes. The Lifestyle Intervention focuses on structured guidance through online group sessions and personalized meal planning, helping participants achieve weight loss goals with ongoing support. The Enhanced Lifestyle option adds even more convenience by including online grocery shopping and free delivery, which can make it easier for participants to stick to healthier eating habits. Meanwhile, the Metformin arm provides an alternative through medication, potentially reducing blood sugar levels with the added benefit of educational sessions about infant health and the effects of the medication. These varied approaches give participants multiple pathways to manage their condition, tailoring the treatment to individual needs while exploring both behavioral and pharmacological strategies.

What evidence suggests that this trial's treatments could be effective for weight loss in postpartum women with recent gestational diabetes?

Research has shown that lifestyle changes can help women with gestational diabetes. These changes can lower the risk of developing type 2 diabetes after pregnancy and assist with weight management, though weight loss is usually small. In this trial, participants will join different arms to evaluate these approaches. The Lifestyle Intervention (LI) and Enhanced Lifestyle Intervention (eLI) arms focus on lifestyle changes, while the Metformin arm involves medication to help control blood sugar during pregnancy and may result in less weight gain. This trial will compare how well these two methods help women lose weight after giving birth. ^{6 7 8 9 10}

Who Is on the Research Team?

Wanda Nicholson, MD

Principal Investigator

The George Washington University

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for postpartum women who had a single, live birth in the last 12 weeks to 1 year and experienced gestational diabetes. They should be interested in weight loss and willing to use digital tracking tools and attend online sessions. Details about specific inclusion or exclusion criteria are not provided.

Inclusion Criteria

Singleton delivery

My BMI is between 25 and 45.

I am 8 weeks to 12 months postpartum and had gestational diabetes.

Exclusion Criteria

Pregnant or planned pregnancy within the next 6 months

Multi-fetal (twins or triplets) gestation

Women whose infants have significant medical conditions, such as congenital heart disease, renal impairment, or hepatic impairment.

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

1 visit (in-person)

Baseline

Participants attend an in-person baseline visit to receive a Bluetooth-enabled scale and Fitbit, have blood drawn for testing, and have their height, weight, and blood pressure measured. Participants will also be asked to bring in their infant, and the study team will measure the infant's weight and length.

1 day

1 visit (in-person)

Lifestyle Intervention

Participants begin with a DPP-based Lifestyle Intervention, including weekly online 45-minute Zoom group sessions for 4 weeks, then biweekly sessions. The goal is a 2% weight loss at 4 weeks and a 3% weight loss at 6 weeks.

6 months

Weekly online sessions for 4 weeks, then biweekly

Randomization and Treatment

Participants not meeting weight loss goals are randomized to either Enhanced Lifestyle Intervention or Metformin. Enhanced Lifestyle includes meal planning and grocery delivery. Metformin involves medication and follow-up calls.

4.5 to 5 months

Biweekly sessions or follow-up calls

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for safety and effectiveness after treatment. At the end of the study, participants complete questionnaires and attend an in-person visit for final assessments.

4 weeks

1 visit (in-person)

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Enhanced Lifestyle Intervention
• Lifestyle Intervention
• Metformin

Trial Overview The study tests if a lifestyle intervention or Metformin is better for weight loss in these women. It includes baseline measurements, digital tracking of diet/activity, group sessions, potential randomization to enhanced interventions or Metformin, with follow-up visits including infant measurements.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Enhanced Lifestyle (eLI) Active Control 1 Intervention

Participants will continue with the same components as the Lifestyle Intervention (LI), with the addition of guidance on healthy meal planning and online grocery shopping, including one free delivery per week via instacart. If randomized to this group, participants will continue to have group sessions every other week with others in the eLI arm of the study for the duration of the study (5 or 4.5 months depending on when they were randomized to the Metformin arm) for a total of a 6-month intervention. Group sessions will last 45-60 minutes each. These sessions will be led by a trained health counselor.

Group II: Lifestyle Intervention (LI) Active Control 1 Intervention

All participants will begin with the DPP-based Lifestyle Intervention (LI). This arm includes weekly online 45-minute Zoom group sessions for 4 weeks. After week 4, Zoom group sessions will be biweekly. The goal is a 2% weight loss at 4 weeks and a 3% weight loss at 6 weeks. If participants reach their weight loss goal, they will continue in this arm of the study. These sessions will be led by a trained health counselor.

Group III: Metformin arm (MI) Active Control 1 Intervention

Participants in this arm will have an individual in-person session with the health counselor and study provider where they receive information about 1) the risks and benefits of Metformin for weight loss, 2) potential risks of infant hypoglycemia and the signs/symptoms of infant hypoglycemia, 3) risk factors for development of infant hypoglycemia and the potential long-term effects and consequences of infant hypoglycemia and, 4) guidance on how to take Metformin. Participants will be placed on Metformin by mouth (850 mg daily x 7 days, then 850 mg twice daily) and will have a 15-minute follow-up call one week after starting the medication to answer additional questions, assess for any medication side effects, and assess for adherence, and then 15-minute follow-up calls by the research team every 2 weeks. Participants will be encouraged to continue practicing healthy lifestyle behaviors learned during the first 4 weeks of the intervention.

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

George Washington University

Lead Sponsor

Trials

263

Recruited

476,000+

American Diabetes Association

Collaborator

Trials

148

Recruited

102,000+

Diabetes Sisters

Collaborator

University of North Carolina

Collaborator

Trials

174

Recruited

1,457,000+

Published Research Related to This Trial

In a study of 1269 women with gestational diabetes, those treated with metformin experienced fewer adverse maternal and neonatal outcomes compared to those treated with insulin, including lower rates of Caesarean deliveries and preterm births.

While metformin treatment was associated with better outcomes, it is important to note that women on insulin had higher baseline BMIs and fasting glucose levels, which may have influenced the results.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Metformin for gestational diabetes in routine clinical practice. Goh, JE., Sadler, L., Rowan, J.[2022]

In a study of 1035 pregnant women, 82.6% achieved successful glycemic control after just two weeks of lifestyle changes, including diet and exercise, highlighting the effectiveness of these interventions for managing gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM).

Younger women (under 35) and those with a pre-pregnancy BMI under 25 had significantly higher rates of glycemic control, suggesting that age and weight management are important factors in the success of lifestyle interventions for GDM.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The Effectiveness of Lifestyle Changes in Glycemic Control among Pregnant Women with Gestational Diabetes Mellitus. Le, DC., Vu, TB., Tran, TN., et al.[2023]

In a study of 25 women with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) who started metformin therapy, 64% achieved good blood sugar control, while 36% required insulin due to inadequate control or intolerance.

Fasting glucose levels during an oral glucose tolerance test were key predictors of metformin response; women with fasting glucose ≤5.2 mmol/L had a 93% chance of responding well to metformin, highlighting the importance of monitoring glucose levels in treatment decisions.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Fasting blood glucose predicts response to extended-release metformin in gestational diabetes mellitus. Corbould, A., Swinton, F., Radford, A., et al.[2014]

A study involving 700 women with gestational diabetes showed that a shared care (SC) approach with lifestyle modifications led to a lower rate of macrosomia (11.2% vs. 17.5%) compared to usual care, indicating improved pregnancy outcomes.

While the SC group had a lower average birth weight and reduced macrosomia risk, they also experienced a higher rate of pregnancy-induced hypertension (PIH), suggesting that while lifestyle changes can be beneficial, they may also carry some risks.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

A randomised translational trial of lifestyle intervention using a 3-tier shared care approach on pregnancy outcomes in Chinese women with gestational diabetes mellitus but without diabetes. Yang, X., Tian, H., Zhang, F., et al.[2022]

Women with gestational diabetes who successfully managed their condition through lifestyle modifications were generally younger and had a lower pre-pregnancy body mass index compared to those who required medication, suggesting that these factors may influence glycemic control outcomes.

The study identified specific diagnostic parameters, such as glucose challenge test and fasting oral glucose tolerance test results, that can help predict which women are likely to need anti-diabetic medications instead of achieving control through lifestyle changes alone.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Characterization of women with gestational diabetes who failed to achieve glycemic control by lifestyle modifications. Krispin, E., Ashkenazi Katz, A., Shmuel, E., et al.[2021]

In a study of 28 women with preexisting type 2 and early A2 gestational diabetes, metformin was found to be as effective as insulin for glycemic control, with no significant differences in glucose measures between the two groups.

Women treated with metformin experienced significantly fewer episodes of hypoglycemia compared to those on insulin, suggesting that metformin may be a safer option for managing diabetes during pregnancy.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Metformin compared with insulin in the treatment of pregnant women with overt diabetes: a randomized controlled trial. Hickman, MA., McBride, R., Boggess, KA., et al.[2013]

Citations

1. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7756044/

Lifestyle intervention to prevent gestational diabetes ... The intervention reduced the incidence of GDM by 39% and decreased gestational weight gain (GWG) by 0.58 kg in pregnant women at high risk for GDM; however, ...

2. nature.com nature.com/articles/s43856-024-00491-1

Effective interventions in preventing gestational diabetes ... Overall, lifestyle intervention reduced the incidence of GDM by 22% (RR 0.78; 95% CI 0.72, 0.85; I2 = 45%). The difference between lifestyle ...

3. dmsjournal.biomedcentral.com dmsjournal.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s13098-025-01606-x

Lifestyle intervention to prevent type 2 diabetes after a ... LSI offered to women with GDM following pregnancy is effective in preventing type 2 diabetes, despite the small postpartum weight change.

4. thelancet.com thelancet.com/journals/eclinm/article/PIIS2589-5370(24)00102-0/fulltext

a 1-year, prospective, multicentre, randomised controlled trial Primary outcome was achieved by 46.3% (56) of intervention participants compared to 43.3% (52) in the control group [odds ratio (OR) 1.13, 95% ...

5. tandfonline.com tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/10641955.2025.2552693

Full article: Evaluation of a lifestyle intervention for women ... Most GDM women can achieve good blood glucose control through lifestyle intervention (Citation10,Citation11). The effectiveness of lifestyle interventions ...

6. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10537217/

The Effectiveness of Lifestyle Changes in Glycemic Control ... Of the 263 pregnant women who met the criteria for gestational diabetes, 82.6% were able to achieve successful blood sugar control through ...

7. clinicaltrials.gov clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT05421845

Prevention of Gestational Diabetes Mellitus With Lifestyle ... The secondary outcomes include maternal glycated hemoglobin level, maternal fasting plasma glucose level, maternal complications, pregnancy outcomes, etc.

8. jamanetwork.com jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2789570

Effects of a Lifestyle Intervention to Prevent Deterioration in ... Findings In this randomized clinical trial of 1612 women with recent GDM, 25.5% of participants allocated to a lifestyle intervention and 27.1% ...

9. sciencedirect.com sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2451965020300806

The timing of interventions in early life and long-term ... While GDM can immediately impact perinatal outcomes, it importantly heralds life-long and sizably increased risk of cardiometabolic disease for the child.

10. diabetesjournals.org diabetesjournals.org/care/article/39/1/24/31648/Gestational-Diabetes-Mellitus-Can-Be-Prevented-by

The Finnish Gestational Diabetes Prevention Study (RADIEL ... A moderate individualized lifestyle intervention reduced the incidence of GDM by 39% in high-risk pregnant women. These findings may have major ...