Better Blood Sugar Goals for Pregnant Women with Gestational Diabetes Who Are Overweight or Obese
Official title: Intensive Glycemic Targets in Overweight and Obese Women with Gestational Diabetes Mellitus: A Multicenter Randomized Trial
Funded at Indiana University Indianapolis · NIH-11124050 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project looks at whether stricter blood sugar goals can help pregnant women who have gestational diabetes and are also overweight or obese have healthier pregnancies and babies.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Indiana University Indianapolis NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Indianapolis, United States) |
| Project start | May 1, 2021 |
| Project end | April 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $634,399 |
| NIH project number | 5R01HD101476-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11124050 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are pregnant women who have been diagnosed with gestational diabetes and are also overweight or obese.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not have gestational diabetes or are not overweight or obese would likely not receive direct benefit from this specific approach.
What this research studies
Many pregnant women today are both overweight or obese and develop gestational diabetes, which can lead to complications for both mother and baby. Current recommendations for managing blood sugar during pregnancy might not be strict enough for these women. This project compares two different approaches to blood sugar control: a standard approach and a more intensive approach with lower target levels. We want to see if aiming for these lower blood sugar levels can improve health outcomes for mothers and their newborns.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to clearer guidelines for managing gestational diabetes in overweight and obese pregnant women, potentially reducing complications like fetal overgrowth and cesarean deliveries.
How similar studies have gone: Prior work by the researchers has shown that intensive glycemic targets can improve blood sugar control without increasing the risk of low blood sugar.
Where this research is happening
-
Indiana University Indianapolis
Indianapolis, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Scifres, Christina Marie — Indiana University Indianapolis
- Study coordinator: Scifres, Christina Marie
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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In Vivo Look at Placental Blood Flow in Gestational Diabetes
A non-invasive MRI study in pregnant people with gestational diabetes and those without will map how placental blood vessels work and relate to baby outcomes.
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Decoding how gestational diabetes links to future coronary artery disease
A study using health records and big data to understand why women who had gestational diabetes later face heart disease, with the goal of guiding prevention.
-
Understanding how gestational diabetes and depression during pregnancy affect mothers and their children
This project explores how gestational diabetes and depression during pregnancy might influence a mother's mental health after birth and her child's brain development.
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Understanding how gestational diabetes develops during pregnancy
This study is looking at how the body's insulin-producing cells change in pregnant women to better understand gestational diabetes and help improve diabetes care for moms both during and after pregnancy.
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The effects of gestational diabetes and maternal depression on child development
This study looks at how having gestational diabetes and feeling depressed during pregnancy might affect how children develop, and it’s for moms-to-be who want to understand how their health can impact their little ones.
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Helping women with a history of gestational diabetes prevent type 2 diabetes.
This study is helping women who had gestational diabetes learn about their options for preventing type 2 diabetes, using a friendly tool that makes it easier for them to choose the best path for their health and lifestyle.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.