Pregnant women at risk for gestational diabetes can now use a new at-home test provided by local maternity services. The remote oral glucose tolerance testing kit, called GTT@home, is available for women identified by their midwives as having a higher risk of the condition. This test allows women to conduct the screening at home, providing results quickly and easing the demand on hospital resources.
Gestational diabetes, affecting up to 20% of pregnancies in the UK, is characterized by high blood sugar levels and typically develops in the second or third trimester. Risk factors include a high body mass index (BMI), ethnicity, and maternal age. If left untreated, it can lead to complications such as premature birth, preeclampsia (high blood pressure), and excessive fetal growth.
The GTT@home kit is mailed to the woman’s home between weeks 24 and 28 of pregnancy or earlier if the mother had a positive diagnosis in a previous pregnancy. To use the kit, a woman pricks her finger to collect a blood sample, which is placed on a test strip inside a small electronic device. After drinking a glucose solution, she waits two hours before taking another blood sample. The data is then uploaded through a smartphone app, and results are sent directly to the midwifery team.
As with traditional testing, women must fast overnight before and during the test.
Kate Harris, Associate Director of Midwifery and Ambulatory Gynaecology, stated, “By incorporating digital technology, we aim to enhance the quality of care. GTT@home allows our community midwives to dedicate more time to crucial antenatal and postnatal care.”
James Jackson, the inventor of GTT@home and CEO of Digostics, expressed enthusiasm about the collaboration: “We are excited to partner with Medway Maritime Hospital to provide home gestational diabetes screening. Our trials and multilingual support boost our confidence in reaching and screening essential patient groups.”
Jackson also noted that the device’s immediate analysis of blood samples reduces the risk of sample degradation, which can occur in clinic-based tests and lead to missed diagnoses.
The partnership between the hospital and Digostics will also focus on research to further enhance gestational diabetes screening and provide new insights into managing diabetes during pregnancy.
Claire Rosten, Innovation Manager for Health Innovation Kent Surrey Sussex, added, “Such collaborations are vital for improving health outcomes, increasing access to care, and promoting health equity.”
