Resumen de Investigación
Analyzed using Evidence Intelligence™

Lifestyle intervention reduces gestational diabetes risk by 41%.

Última actualización 4 de septiembre de 2026

Key finding

Daily dietary intake of calories decreased by 120 kcal.

A 12-week lifestyle intervention in early pregnancy reduced the risk of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) by 41% among high-risk women in the UAE.

Quick read

Study at a glance

The essential study design details in one scan.

EvidenceScore™

Moderate

Study type

RCTs

Follow-up

Extended (5–20+ y)

Risk of bias

Some Concerns

Guarda investigacion, organiza estudios y vuelve a encontrar evidencia importante rapidamente.

Plain-language summary

What this paper says

A plain-language read of the study’s main message and where it applies.

Study focus

A 12-week lifestyle intervention in early pregnancy reduced the risk of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) by 41% among high-risk women in the UAE.

Clinical relevance

Gestational diabetes can lead to serious health complications for both mothers and infants. By demonstrating that a structured lifestyle intervention can significantly reduce the incidence of GDM, this study highlights an effective preventive strategy that could improve maternal and fetal health outcomes in high-risk populations.

Keep in mind

The study's population was limited to high-risk pregnant women in the UAE, which may affect generalizability. Results may not apply to women outside the early pregnancy period. The study did not find significant differences in some metabolic outcomes, including fasting plasma glucose.

Published in

Referencia de la Revista

Publication details and source links for this paper.

Amena S, Vidya J, Ghida S, Rama A, Yohannes T. A 12-week moderate intensity lifestyle intervention in early pregnancy could reduce the relative risk of GDM by 41% among high-risk pregnant women in the UAE. BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth. 2022;22:668. doi:10.1186/s12884-022-04972-w

Efectos Principales

The incidence of gestational diabetes mellitus was 33.3% in the lifestyle intervention group compared to 57.5% in the usual care group.

Daily dietary intake of calories decreased by 120 kcal in the intervention group.

Physical activity time increased by 52 minutes in the lifestyle intervention group.

Evidence network

How this study fits

Understand where this research contributes within the broader evidence network.

Evidence Context

This study contributes evidence to Complex lifestyle intervention and Blood glucose, Caesarean section rate, Daily dietary intake of carbohydrates, and 9 more.

Primary intervention

Complex lifestyle intervention

Primary outcomes

  • Blood glucose
  • Caesarean section rate
  • Daily dietary intake of carbohydrates

Evidence relationships

Intervention and outcome relationships this study adds to the evidence network.

12
Evidence pairs
12
Relationships
9
Evidence topics
contributes_evidence

Editorial context

Why this study matters

See why this paper is useful beyond its individual results.

Evidence network role

This section describes how the study fits into the current evidence network. It does not determine whether an intervention works on its own.

Moderate contributionModerate confidenceNetwork score: 68

9

Related topics

12

Evidence pairs

1739

Related studies

High relevance in at least one topic

Why it is useful

  • Contributes to 12 evidence relationships
  • Includes primary outcome data
  • Linked to 9 direct semantic evidence topics

Topic contributions

Evidence topic

Contributes evidence

Evidence topic

Contributes evidence

Evidence topic

Contributes evidence

Evidence topic

Contributes evidence

Agrega evidencia relacionada a tu Evidence Tracker

Guarda estudios y paginas de evidencia, organiza tu Evidence Tracker y manten en un solo lugar la investigacion que te importa.

Evidencia principal

Relación de evidencia

Diabetes Self-Management Education and Support (DSMES) Programs and Fasting Glucose

Evidencia relacionada

Relación de evidencia

Diabetes Self-Management Education and Support (DSMES) Programs and Physical Activity Levels

Guardar evidencia

Relación de evidencia

Diabetes Self-Management Education and Support (DSMES) Programs and Body Weight

Guardar evidencia

Core evidence

Study findings

The primary outcomes reported in this study.

Blood glucose

Complex lifestyle intervention → Blood glucose

Complex lifestyle intervention → Blood glucose

Evidence Intelligence™
EvidenceScore™
Emerging
Score 59 · Based on 1 study
ImpactScore™
50
Neutral
ConsistencyScore™
unclear
Not enough independent studies
Estudios de apoyo: Basado en 1 estudio
Add to Evidence Tracker

Caesarean section rate

Complex lifestyle intervention → Caesarean section rate

Complex lifestyle intervention → Caesarean section rate

Evidence Intelligence™
EvidenceScore™
Emerging
Score 59 · Based on 1 study
ImpactScore™
50
Neutral
ConsistencyScore™
unclear
Not enough independent studies
Estudios de apoyo: Basado en 1 estudio
Add to Evidence Tracker

Daily dietary intake of carbohydrates

Complex lifestyle intervention → Daily dietary intake of carbohydrates

Complex lifestyle intervention → Daily dietary intake of carbohydrates

Evidence Intelligence™
EvidenceScore™
Emerging
Score 59 · Based on 1 study
ImpactScore™
100
Very Positive
ConsistencyScore™
unclear
Not enough independent studies
Estudios de apoyo: Basado en 1 estudio
Add to Evidence Tracker

Fasting Plasma Glucose (FPG)

Complex lifestyle intervention → Fasting Plasma Glucose (FPG)

Complex lifestyle intervention → Fasting Plasma Glucose (FPG)

Evidence Intelligence™
EvidenceScore™
Moderate
Score 69 · Based on 2 studies
ImpactScore™
75
Positive
ConsistencyScore™
35
mixed
Estudios de apoyo: Basado en 2 estudios
Add to Evidence Tracker

Fat intake

Complex lifestyle intervention → Fat intake

Complex lifestyle intervention → Fat intake

Evidence Intelligence™
EvidenceScore™
Emerging
Score 59 · Based on 1 study
ImpactScore™
100
Very Positive
ConsistencyScore™
unclear
Not enough independent studies
Estudios de apoyo: Basado en 1 estudio
Add to Evidence Tracker

Gestational age at delivery (weeks)

Complex lifestyle intervention → Gestational age at delivery (weeks)

Complex lifestyle intervention → Gestational age at delivery (weeks)

Evidence Intelligence™
EvidenceScore™
Moderate
Score 69 · Based on 2 studies
ImpactScore™
50
Neutral
ConsistencyScore™
100
consistent
Estudios de apoyo: Basado en 2 estudios
Add to Evidence Tracker

Gestational diabetes mellitus incidence

Complex lifestyle intervention → Gestational diabetes mellitus incidence

Complex lifestyle intervention → Gestational diabetes mellitus incidence

Evidence Intelligence™
EvidenceScore™
Emerging
Score 59 · Based on 1 study
ImpactScore™
85
Very Positive
ConsistencyScore™
unclear
Not enough independent studies
Estudios de apoyo: Basado en 1 estudio
Add to Evidence Tracker

Gestational weight gain

Complex lifestyle intervention → Gestational weight gain

Complex lifestyle intervention → Gestational weight gain

Evidence Intelligence™
EvidenceScore™
Emerging
Score 59 · Based on 1 study
ImpactScore™
50
Neutral
ConsistencyScore™
unclear
Not enough independent studies
Estudios de apoyo: Basado en 1 estudio
Add to Evidence Tracker

Neonatal birth weight

Complex lifestyle intervention → Neonatal birth weight

Complex lifestyle intervention → Neonatal birth weight

Evidence Intelligence™
EvidenceScore™
Moderate
Score 69 · Based on 2 studies
ImpactScore™
50
Neutral
ConsistencyScore™
100
consistent
Estudios de apoyo: Basado en 2 estudios
Add to Evidence Tracker

Physical activity level (MET-minutes per week)

Complex lifestyle intervention → Physical activity level (MET-minutes per week)

Complex lifestyle intervention → Physical activity level (MET-minutes per week)

Evidence Intelligence™
EvidenceScore™
Moderate
Score 69 · Based on 2 studies
ImpactScore™
75
Positive
ConsistencyScore™
100
consistent
Estudios de apoyo: Basado en 2 estudios
Add to Evidence Tracker

Postprandial blood glucose

Complex lifestyle intervention → Postprandial blood glucose

Complex lifestyle intervention → Postprandial blood glucose

Evidence Intelligence™
EvidenceScore™
Moderate
Score 69 · Based on 2 studies
ImpactScore™
75
Positive
ConsistencyScore™
35
mixed
Estudios de apoyo: Basado en 2 estudios
Add to Evidence Tracker

Total daily caloric intake

Complex lifestyle intervention → Total daily caloric intake

Complex lifestyle intervention → Total daily caloric intake

Evidence Intelligence™
EvidenceScore™
Emerging
Score 59 · Based on 1 study
ImpactScore™
100
Very Positive
ConsistencyScore™
unclear
Not enough independent studies
Estudios de apoyo: Basado en 1 estudio
Add to Evidence Tracker

Evidence Library

Build your evidence library

Save research, organize studies, and quickly find important evidence again.

evidence suggest

La Evidencia Sugiere

  • Lifestyle intervention reduced GDM incidence by 41%.
  • Participants decreased calorie intake by 120 kcal daily.
  • Physical activity increased by 52 minutes per week.
who this applies

A quién se aplica

  • High-risk pregnant women in the UAE.
  • Women with a history of gestational diabetes or obesity.
keep in mind

Tener en Cuenta

  • The findings are specific to a high-risk population and may not be applicable to all pregnant women.
  • Further research is needed to confirm long-term effects of the intervention.
  • The study did not assess the impact on long-term maternal and child health outcomes.
between the lines

Entre Líneas

  • The study's population was limited to high-risk pregnant women in the UAE, which may affect generalizability.
  • Results may not apply to women outside the early pregnancy period.
  • The study did not find significant differences in some metabolic outcomes, including fasting plasma glucose.

Evidence Library

Build your evidence library

Save research, organize studies, and quickly find important evidence again.

Connected Evidence

Explore related studies, evidence collections, and research questions.

Relationships organized using the Dediabetes Evidence Intelligence™ framework.

This study contributes to evidence on Diabetes Self-Management Education and Support (DSMES) Programs and Fasting Glucose, Diabetes Self-Management Education and Support (DSMES) Programs and Gestational age at delivery (weeks).

Relaciones de evidencia relacionadas

Explore in Evidence Explorer

This study contributes to the evidence on the following intervention-outcome relationships.

Incluido en estas colecciones de evidencia

Curated evidence collections and hubs this study is part of.

Questions answered by this study

Generated from the study's connected evidence using Evidence Intelligence™.

Do Diabetes Self-Management Education and Support (DSMES) Programs improve fasting glucose?

Strong Evidence

Diabetes Self-Management Education and Support (DSMES) Programs may improve fasting glucose.

ConsistencyScore™: Results are mixed and should be interpreted cautiously.

Evidence caveat: The available evidence reports mixed findings.

Ranked evidence signals

  1. 1

    Fasting Plasma Glucose (FPG)

    EvidenceScore™ Moderate | EvidenceScore™ 69.0 | moderate positive | ConsistencyScore™ Mixed | 1 study

  2. 2

    Blood glucose

    EvidenceScore™ Emerging | EvidenceScore™ 59.0 | neutral | ConsistencyScore™ Unclear | 1 study

Why this answer: This answer is cautious because the available studies report mixed findings.

21 supporting studies

Do Diabetes Self-Management Education and Support (DSMES) Programs improve physical activity levels?

Strong Evidence

Diabetes Self-Management Education and Support (DSMES) Programs may improve physical activity levels.

ConsistencyScore™: Results are mixed and should be interpreted cautiously.

Evidence caveat: The available evidence reports mixed findings.

Ranked evidence signals

  1. 1

    Physical activity level (MET-minutes per week)

    EvidenceScore™ Moderate | EvidenceScore™ 69.0 | moderate positive | ConsistencyScore™ Consistent | 1 study

Why this answer: This answer is cautious because the available studies report mixed findings.

11 supporting studies

Do Diabetes Self-Management Education and Support (DSMES) Programs affect body weight?

Strong Evidence

Diabetes Self-Management Education and Support (DSMES) Programs appear to affect body weight.

ConsistencyScore™: Results are consistent across studies.

Ranked evidence signals

  1. 1

    Gestational weight gain

    EvidenceScore™ Emerging | EvidenceScore™ 59.0 | neutral | ConsistencyScore™ Unclear | 1 study

Why this answer: This answer is based on 14 supporting studies with consistent results and a positive effect signal.

14 supporting studies

Do Diabetes Self-Management Education and Support (DSMES) Programs reduce diabetes incidence and prevention?

Strong Evidence

Diabetes Self-Management Education and Support (DSMES) Programs may reduce diabetes incidence and prevention.

ConsistencyScore™: Results are consistent across studies.

Ranked evidence signals

  1. 1

    Gestational diabetes mellitus incidence

    EvidenceScore™ Emerging | EvidenceScore™ 59.0 | strong positive | ConsistencyScore™ Unclear | 1 study

Why this answer: This answer is based on 5 supporting studies with consistent results and a positive effect signal.

5 supporting studies
Learn how Evidence Intelligence™ works

Next steps

Continue your research

Choose a next path through related evidence topics, Evidence Explorer views, and research summaries.

Sin anuncios. Sin rastreo.

Centrada en la evidencia, no en la publicidad.

Segura y privada

Tus datos siempre están protegidos.

Siempre al día

Se agregan nuevos estudios todos los días.