The Virtual Visit for Women With Gestational Diabetes

This is a feasibility study of care for women with gestational diabetes (GDM) using electronic equipment to participate in virtual office visits. Participants will be trained in the use of glucose meters, scales, and sphygmomanometers which are Bluetooth connected to an app on their cellphones. Fetal well-being will be assessed with Dopplers and kick counts. Care will be delivered by alternate in-office and telephone visits.

The core elements of a prenatal visit for any pregnant woman include assessment of BP, weight, and presence of fetal heart activity. The treatment of GDM additionally requires the measurement of and review of maternal glycemia. Technology exists for patients to measure these parameters and to relay this information securely directly from these devices via the internet to the healthcare provider's office. A key element of antepartum care for GDM, self-monitoring of blood glucose (SMBG), has for some years been conducted with memory-based portable glucose meters. To assure accuracy in reports of patient measurements, it is important that all devices be of a design wherein results of measures of patient parameters are transmitted in unedited fashion directly devices to the health care provider. While no data exists about the accuracy of self-reporting of patient weight and blood pressure, intentional or unintentional alteration in reports of self-monitored glucose results is a known risk of reliance on patient self-reported data. This pilot study will explore the feasibility of the use of this technology from patients' homes in lieu of an office visit.

Self-monitoring of blood glucose (four times daily). Self-weighing (weekly). Self-checking of blood pressure (weekly). Checking fetal heart rate (weekly). Visits with caregivers.

Self-monitoring of blood glucose 4 times daily: fasting and 1-hour after each meal. Results will be recorded and transmitted in real-time via a Bluetooth connection to a cellphone app installed on study enrollment. Intervention: At every office visit and at every telephone ("virtual") visit the patient's physician will review glucose results and make adjustments in diet, activity, or medication to bring glucose into desired range.

Self-weighing on electronic scale at least once a week. Results will be recorded and transmitted in real-time via a Bluetooth connection to a cellphone app installed on study enrollment. Consultation with the nutritionist will be obtained for women gaining in excess of or less than that indicated for her pre-pregnancy BMI, per Institute of Medicine (IOM) standards.

Self-checking of blood pressure at least weekly with sphygmomanometer. Results will be recorded and transmitted in real-time via a Bluetooth connection to a cellphone app installed on study enrollment. Patients with elevated blood pressure will be requested to come to Obstetrics Triage immediately for further assessment.

Patient will record her fetus' heart rate with a Doppler device at least once weekly. The patient will immediately report to Labor and Delivery for any fetal heart rate below 100 beats per minute or greater than 160 beats per minute over a 10 minute observation period.Those reporting a fetal heart rate outside of the normal range will be requested to come to ObstetricTriage for further assessment.

Telephone visits will alternate with in-office visits.Those failing to keep appointments will be contacted and reappointed at a mutually convenient time.

Each patient is requested to check her blood glucose four times a day: fasting and one hour after the first bite of each meal. Compliance with this requirement will be measured for each patient by dividing the number of daily glucose checks actually performed by the number of days in the study.

Average percentage of weight checks per week in study, calculated as total weight checks in study/weeks in study x 100

Percentage of required once-weekly blood pressure checks calculated as total blood pressure checks in study/weeks in study x 100

Pregnant women meeting inclusion and exclusion criteria (see below) who volunteer to participate for the study. Volunteers will be solicited sequentially.

Inclusion Criteria: Diagnosis of gestational diabetes Singleton pregnancy <32 weeks gestation Age 18-45 years Fluent and literate in English or Spanish Have a cellphone with capability of internet access. Exclusion Criteria: Multiple gestations (twins or higher) Have a history of fetal demise Have a history of chronic health problems that might affect outcomes (such as HIV, treatment with steroids, significant cardiac or renal disease, or chronic hypertension), and those who had bariatric surgery.

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Homko CJ, Deeb LC, Rohrbacher K, Mulla W, Mastrogiannis D, Gaughan J, Santamore WP, Bove AA. Impact of a telemedicine system with automated reminders on outcomes in women with gestational diabetes mellitus. Diabetes Technol Ther. 2012 Jul;14(7):624-9. doi: 10.1089/dia.2012.0010. Epub 2012 Apr 18.

Sacks DA, Ling Grant D, Macias M, Li X, Lawrence JM. The Virtual Office Visit for Women With Gestational Diabetes Mellitus. Diabetes Care. 2017 Mar;40(3):e34-e35. doi: 10.2337/dc16-2569. Epub 2017 Jan 11. No abstract available. Erratum In: Diabetes Care. 2019 Apr;42(4):701.