Meals for Moms: Medically-Tailored Meals for Women Who Had Gestational Diabetes

April 25, 2025 updated by: Wake Forest University Health Sciences

Meals for Moms: A Postpartum Medically-Tailored Meal Program to Promote Weight Loss and Blood Glucose Control Among Women With Hyperglycemia in Pregnancy

The purpose of this research study is to test whether delivery of medically tailored meals (meals designed specifically to be healthy) can be used to help reduce high blood sugar after delivery of a baby. Participants will be recruited and consented during the third trimester of pregnancy but will begin study activities after delivery. Participants will complete a series of questionnaires on demographics, health history, home environment, overall and financial stress, plans for weight loss and infant feeding, and food insecurity. Participants will also be asked to wear continuous glucose monitors for two separate 14-day periods (within 2 weeks of delivery and at 3 months). All participants will receive weekly emails with educational videos and 3 virtual visits with a member of the study team and will also be randomly assigned to an intervention or comparison group. In the intervention, participants will receive weekly meal deliveries of 10 pre-prepared meals from Providence Community Kitchen (local company in Winston-Salem, NC) that are calorically restricted and appropriate for post-partum women with a history of gestational diabetes and who may be breast-feeding. Women in the control condition will receive written resources on self-care, nutrition, and physical activity appropriate for post-partum women who had gestational diabetes.

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Completed

Conditions

Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied. On ClinicalTrials.gov, conditions may also include other health-related issues, such as lifespan, quality of life, and health risks.

Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.

Detailed Description

Pregnancy and delivery can function as a "stress test" for future development of cardiovascular disease and metabolic disorders, with gestational diabetes and excessive weight gain during pregnancy leading to worse outcomes later in a mother's life. The prevalence of both conditions continues to increase with the obesity epidemic, highlighting the urgent need for successful interventions to reverse maternal weight gain and promote normal blood sugars. The early postpartum period provides a critical opportunity to address diet behaviors that are related to both weight and diabetes. Postpartum medically-tailored meal delivery is a novel approach that may allow for improved blood sugar control and weight loss in a traditionally hard-to-engage patient population. There is currently no available data on the cost, feasibility, or effectiveness of providing medically-tailored meals to postpartum women. This is a pilot study of medically-tailored meals for new mothers whose pregnancies were complicated by gestational diabetes, and whose total gestational weight gain exceeded recommendations. Study will enroll 30 women with gestational diabetes and excessive gestational weight gain late in the third trimester of a singleton pregnancy. Data collection and intervention activities will begin after delivery. All participants will wear a continuous glucose monitor for baseline (first 2 weeks after delivery) and at follow up (after 3 months). Participants will also completed self-administered questionnaires, receive weekly informational videos by email, and have 3 monthly in-person check-ins with a member of the study team. Twenty participants will be randomly assigned to a medically-tailored meals intervention and 10 to a usual-care comparison group. A local community-based program will prepare and deliver 10 medically-tailored meals per week to intervention participants for their first 3 months postpartum.

Study Type

Study Type

Describes the nature of a clinical study. Study types include interventional studies (also called clinical trials), observational studies (including patient registries), and expanded access.
Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

Enrollment

The number of participants in a clinical study. The "anticipated" enrollment is the target number of participants that the researchers need for the study.
12

Phase

Phase

The stage of a clinical trial studying a drug or biological product, based on definitions developed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The phase is based on the study's objective, the number of participants, and other characteristics. There are five phases: Early Phase 1 (formerly listed as Phase 0), Phase 1, Phase 2, Phase 3, and Phase 4. Not Applicable is used to describe trials without FDA-defined phases, including trials of devices or behavioral interventions.
  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

Study Contact

The name and contact information for the person who can answer enrollment questions for a clinical study. Each location where the study is being conducted may also have a specific contact, who may be better able to answer those questions.

Study Contact Backup

Study Locations

  • United States
    • North Carolina
      • Winston-Salem, North Carolina, United States, 27101
        • Wake Forest Baptist Health

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

The key requirements that people who want to participate in a clinical study must meet or the characteristics they must have. Eligibility criteria consist of both inclusion criteria (which are required for a person to participate in the study) and exclusion criteria (which prevent a person from participating). Types of eligibility criteria include whether a study accepts healthy volunteers, has age or age group requirements, or is limited by sex.

Ages Eligible for Study

18 years and older (Adult, Older Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Demographics: Women 18 years of age and older who reside in Forsyth County, NC
  • Pregnancy: Currently 24 or more weeks into a singleton pregnancy
  • Clinical evidence of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) defined as either 3-hour oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) results obtained in the second trimester of pregnancy that show at least 2 abnormal values or a diagnosis of "gestational diabetes" included on the Problem List in medical record during current pregnancy, regardless of OGTT values
  • Excessive gestational weight gain: Most recent weight exceeds predicted weight gain for current weeks gestational age defined as pre-pregnancy Body mass index (BMI) of 30 kg/m2 or more and weight at most recent clinical visit 20+ pounds over pre-pregnancy weight or pre-pregnancy BMI of 25-29.9 kg/m2 and weight at most recent clinical visit 25+ pounds over pre-pregnancy weight
  • English Proficiency: Able to read/understand English at or above a level sufficient to comprehend recruitment, informed consent, and intervention materials.
  • Access to a smart phone/tablet/computer capable of connecting to video calls or teleconferencing software.
  • Willingness to Accept Randomization: Prospective participants must be willing to accept randomization to either the medically tailored meal intervention or the comparison intervention condition.

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Clinical history of diabetes (type 1 or 2) pre-pregnancy
  • Non-singleton pregnancy
  • Other chronic diseases or medical conditions that would increase risk or make participation otherwise unsafe, including special dietary needs. A clinician investigator will review the medical record for all potential participants to determine if any such conditions exist.
  • Known food allergies of sensitivities. Potential participants who report special dietary requirements including vegetarians, vegans, those who follow kosher or other specialized diets will be excluded due to the small nature of this pilot study.
  • History of allergic skin reaction to adhesive tape
  • Unable or unwilling to wear a continuous glucose monitor (CGM) device
  • Is scheduled for an MRI during the study weeks, making use of the CGM device unsafe
  • Other: Conditions/criteria likely to interfere with participation and acceptance of randomized assignment, including the following: inability/unwillingness to give informed consent, major psychiatric or cognitive problems (schizophrenia, dementia, self-reported substance or alcohol abuse), participation in another research study that would interfere with Meals for Moms

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Other
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: None (Open Label)

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Participant Group / Arm

A group or subgroup of participants in a clinical trial that receives a specific intervention/treatment, or no intervention, according to the trial's protocol.
Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.
Experimental: Medically Tailored Meals
A series of medically tailored meals appropriate for women with gestational diabetes will be developed in partnership with chefs from a local community kitchen and catering company. Meals will create a slight caloric deficit in order to promote gradual weight loss, but with sufficient energy intake and macronutrient balance to allow breastfeeding. These meals will be roughly 40% carbohydrate, 30% protein, and 30% fat in composition. Study Team will plan up to 20 unique lunch and dinner meals for the series. Each meal will be prepared to be between 450-600 kcal and to contain 6 ounces of protein, 4 ounces of vegetable and I cup of whole grain (at a minimum). Participants will receive detailed recipe cards and nutrition information with each meal. In addition to receiving the medically tailored meals, participants will be advised to supplement their own breakfast +/- snacks to reach a total daily calorie goal determined by starting BMI category.
Behavioral: Medically Tailored Meals
Participants will receive weekly meals (20 per week) prepared by a local community kitchen and catering group. Each week, 10 dinners and 10 lunches will be delivered to the participant's home with instructions for storage, re-heating, recipes, and nutritional information.
No Intervention: Usual Care Comparison Group
Participants in this group will receive written materials on self-care, nutrition, and physical activity in the postpartum period and community resources for healthy living.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, the planned outcome measure that is the most important for evaluating the effect of an intervention/treatment. Most clinical studies have one primary outcome measure, but some have more than one.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Days of Continuous Glucose Monitoring in Postpartum Mothers
Time Frame: 3 months
Tracking the number of days the continuous glucose monitors were worn (of 14 total possible) at 3 months.
3 months
Number of Meals Successfully Ordered and Delivered
Time Frame: 3 months
Determine the percent of meals successfully ordered & delivered in the intervention group
3 months
Number of Dollars Cost
Time Frame: 3 months
Determine the total cost across all participants for the medically tailored meal program per participant assuming 20 meals per week provided to each participant for 12 weeks.
3 months
Days of Continuous Glucose Monitoring in Postpartum Mothers
Time Frame: 14 day period assessed at baseline
Tracking the number of days the continuous glucose monitors were worn (of 14 total possible) at baseline.
14 day period assessed at baseline

Secondary Outcome Measures

Secondary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, a planned outcome measure that is not as important as the primary outcome measure for evaluating the effect of an intervention but is still of interest. Most clinical studies have more than one secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Change in Mean Glucose
Time Frame: Baseline and month 3
Using data from the continuous glucose monitor, changes in mean glucose will be assessed
Baseline and month 3
Change in Glucose Management Indicator (GMI)
Time Frame: Baseline and month 3
Using data from the continuous glucose monitor, changes in GMI will be assessed as a proxy measure of hemoglobin A1c
Baseline and month 3
Change in Glycemic Variability
Time Frame: Baseline and month 3
Using data from the continuous glucose monitor, changes in glycemic variability (percent coefficient of variation) will be assessed
Baseline and month 3
Change in Time in Range (TIR)
Time Frame: Baseline and month 3
Using data from the continuous glucose monitor, changes in percent of time in range (70 mg/dL to 180 mg/dL) will be assessed
Baseline and month 3
Change in Time Above Range (Hyperglycemia)
Time Frame: Baseline and month 3
Using data from the continuous glucose monitor, changes in percent of time above the target range (70 mg/dL to 180 mg/dL) will be assessed
Baseline and month 3
Change in Time Below Range (Hypoglycemia)
Time Frame: Baseline and month 3
Using data from the continuous glucose monitor, changes in percent of time below the target range (70 mg/dL to 180 mg/dL) will be assessed
Baseline and month 3

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Sponsor

The organization or person who initiates the study and who has authority and control over the study.
Wake Forest University Health Sciences

Collaborators

Collaborators

An organization other than the sponsor that provides support for a clinical study. This support may include activities related to funding, design, implementation, data analysis, or reporting.
University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
North Carolina Diabetes Research Center

Investigators

Investigators

A researcher involved in a clinical study. Related terms include site principal investigator, site sub-investigator, study chair, study director, and study principal investigator.
  • Principal Investigator: Morgana Mongraw-Chaffin, Wake Forest University Health Sciences

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

Study Start

The actual date on which the first participant was enrolled in a clinical study. The "anticipated" study start date is the date that the researchers think will be the study start date.
October 20, 2021

Primary Completion (Actual)

Primary Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention to collect final data for the primary outcome measure. Whether the clinical study ended according to the protocol or was terminated does not affect this date. For clinical studies with more than one primary outcome measure with different completion dates, this term refers to the date on which data collection is completed for all the primary outcome measures. The "anticipated" primary completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the primary completion date for the study.
January 17, 2023

Study Completion (Actual)

Study Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention/treatment to collect final data for the primary outcome measures, secondary outcome measures, and adverse events (that is, the last participant's last visit). The "anticipated" study completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the study completion date.
January 17, 2023

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

First Submitted

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submitted a study record to ClinicalTrials.gov. There is typically a delay of a few days between the first submitted date and the record's availability on ClinicalTrials.gov (the first posted date).
April 26, 2021

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submits a study record that is consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. The sponsor or investigator may need to revise and submit a study record one or more times before NLM's QC review criteria are met. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
April 26, 2021

First Posted (Actual)

First Posted

The date on which the study record was first available on ClinicalTrials.gov after National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review has concluded. There is typically a delay of a few days between the date the study sponsor or investigator submitted the study record and the first posted date.
April 30, 2021

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

Last Update Posted

The most recent date on which changes to a study record were made available on ClinicalTrials.gov. There may be a delay between when the changes were submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov by the study's sponsor or investigator (the last update submitted date) and the last update posted date.
April 29, 2025

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator submitted changes to a study record that are consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
April 25, 2025

Last Verified

Last Verified

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator confirmed the information about a clinical study on ClinicalTrials.gov as accurate and current. If a study with a recruitment status of recruiting; not yet recruiting; or active, not recruiting has not been confirmed within the past 2 years, the study's recruitment status is shown as unknown.
February 1, 2023

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

Other Study ID Numbers

Identifiers or ID numbers other than the NCT number that are assigned to a clinical study by the study's sponsor, funders, or others. These numbers may include unique identifiers from other trial registries and National Institutes of Health grant numbers.
  • IRB00072715
  • 40010554 (Other Identifier: National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases)

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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