Investigating the best timing for starting medication in pregnant women with gestational diabetes
Official title: Gestational Diabetes and Pharmacotherapy (GAP) – A Randomized Controlled Trial Investigating Timing of Pharmacotherapy Initiation for Patients with Gestational Diabetes
Funded at Medical College of Wisconsin · NIH-11040297 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at the best time to start medication for pregnant women with gestational diabetes when diet and exercise aren't enough, to help improve health for both moms and babies while also considering their emotional well-being.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Medical College of Wisconsin NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Milwaukee, United States) |
| Project start | March 3, 2022 |
| Project end | February 28, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $504,901 |
| NIH project number | 5R01HD108194-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11040297 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are pregnant women diagnosed with gestational diabetes who are struggling to manage their condition with diet and exercise alone.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not pregnant or those who have well-controlled gestational diabetes through diet and exercise may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on gestational diabetes, a condition affecting many pregnancies, and aims to determine the optimal timing for initiating pharmacotherapy when medical nutrition therapy and exercise are insufficient. The study will involve a randomized controlled trial where participants will receive different timings for medication initiation based on their glucose levels. By analyzing maternal and neonatal outcomes, the research seeks to establish evidence-based guidelines that could improve treatment consistency and effectiveness. Patients will be monitored for both physical health outcomes and psychological impacts, such as anxiety and depression.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved health outcomes for both mothers and their babies by providing clearer guidelines for pharmacotherapy in gestational diabetes.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has indicated that earlier initiation of pharmacotherapy can improve neonatal outcomes, suggesting that this approach may be promising.
Where this research is happening
-
Medical College of Wisconsin
Milwaukee, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Palatnik, Anna — Medical College of Wisconsin
- Study coordinator: Palatnik, Anna
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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When to start medicine for gestational diabetes
This project compares starting diabetes medicine earlier versus later in pregnancy to see which approach leads to better health for pregnant people with gestational diabetes.
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Digital twins of the hypothalamus, placenta, and gut to help manage gestational diabetes
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IGF factors and binding proteins in gestational diabetes and fetal growth
A study in pregnant people looks at how insulin-like growth factors and their binding proteins affect gestational diabetes and how a baby grows.
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STRONG group prenatal care to reduce gestational diabetes in American Samoa
A Yale-led program tests a group prenatal care approach to lower gestational diabetes among pregnant Pacific Islander women in American Samoa.
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Pancreatic beta cells, oxidative stress, and gestational diabetes
A study is exploring how oxidative stress and changes in pancreatic beta cells during pregnancy may contribute to gestational diabetes and future diabetes risk for both mother and baby.
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NDPP-MAP: A tailored online-hybrid program to reduce long-term health risks after pregnancy with gestational diabetes
A patient-friendly program adapts a proven diabetes prevention approach to help women who had gestational diabetes lower their risk of type 2 diabetes and heart problems.
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.