Intrapartum Glucose Control and Risk of Neonatal Hypoglycemia

June 4, 2026 updated by: Praveen Ramesh, University of Pittsburgh

Intrapartum Maternal Glucose Control and Effect on Neonatal Hypoglycemia

The purpose of this study is to assess whether a liberal intrapartum glycemic target range compared to usual care standard control ranges will lead to a decrease in the rate of neonatal hypoglycemia among pregnant patients in labor with diabetes.

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Active, not recruiting

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

Neonatal hypoglycemia is a leading cause of admission to the neonatal ICU (NICU) and is associated with increased costs, separation from mothers, and when severe, long term neurological sequelae. Prior research has suggested an association between intrapartum maternal glucose and the risk of neonatal hypoglycemia, so current insulin administration protocols aimed to maintain the blood glucose close to 100mg/dl.

However, recent studies have found inconsistent evidence of a relationship between intrapartum maternal glucose and neonatal hypoglycemia, Furthermore, on review of previously established protocols, improved maternal glucose control came with an increased frequency of neonatal hypoglycemia. Thus, these findings have suggested that relaxing the intrapartum goals for maternal glucose may be associated with improved neonatal outcomes.

Few randomized controlled trials (RCTs) exist in evaluating neonatal outcomes comparing liberal versus tight intrapartum glycemic control. Recent RCTs have found that tight maternal glucose control in labor was associated with lower mean neonatal blood glucose levels in the first 24 hours of life. While another recent RCT found that a permissive blood glucose (up to 180mg/dl) threshold was associated with equivalent neonatal blood glucose levels when compared to the standard, strict thresholds (up to 110mg/dl).

In this study, participants will be recruited at delivery planning outpatient visits or at admission to labor and delivery and stratified by type of diabetes into two groups, either Type 1 Diabetes or Gestational Diabetes(GDM)/Type 2 diabetes. They will then be randomized to one of two intervention groups. The liberalized treatment group will have a target Glucose Range 70 - 160mg/dl and receive treatment via insulin drip will be initiated if the blood sugar exceeds the upper bound. The standard treatment Group will have a glucose target Glucose Range 70 - 110mg/dl and receive treatment via insulin drip will be initiated if the blood sugar exceeds the upper bound.

The specific aim of this project is to determine the effectiveness of liberalized intrapartum glycemic targets in reducing the incidence of neonatal hypoglycemia.

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.
169

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
    • Pennsylvania
      • Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States, 15213
        • Magee-Women's Hospital of UPMC

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

  • Child
  • Adult
  • Older Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Pregnant patients with Pre-gestational (Type 1 or Type 2) or Gestational Diabetes
  • Singleton Gestations
  • Greater than or equal to 35 weeks gestation
  • Planned for vaginal delivery at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Magee-Womens Hospital (UPMC MWH)

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Major fetal anomalies anticipated to require NICU admission
  • Planned Cesarean delivery

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: Treatment
  • 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.
Active Comparator: Standard Intrapartum Glucose Target Range
The goal intrapartum glucose target range will be 70-110mg/dl. Insulin infusion will be initiated when maternal capillary glucose exceeds 110 mg/dL.
Other: Standard Intrapartum Glucose Target Range
Intrapartum maternal glucose management involves frequent blood sugar checks and the use of insulin intravenous drip as needed. Maternal capillary blood sugar is checked every 4 hours in early labor, 2 hours in active labor and hourly during the second stage of labor. The frequency of maternal glucose monitoring will not differ by study group. The goal intrapartum glucose target range will be 70-110mg/dl. Insulin infusion will be initiated when maternal capillary glucose exceeds 110 mg/dL. Once an insulin infusion is initiated, glucose monitoring frequency will occur by protocol. A hypoglycemia protocol is initiated if the maternal blood sugar is less than 60mg/dl.
Experimental: Liberalized Intrapartum Glucose Target Range
The goal intrapartum glucose target range will be 70-160mg/dl. Insulin infusion will be initiated when maternal capillary glucose exceeds 160 mg/dL.
Other: Liberalized Intrapartum Glucose Target Range
Intrapartum maternal glucose management involves frequent blood sugar checks and the use of insulin intravenous drip as needed. Maternal capillary blood sugar is checked every 4 hours in early labor, 2 hours in active labor and hourly during the second stage of labor. The frequency of maternal glucose monitoring will not differ by study group. The goal intrapartum glucose target range will be 70-160mg/dl. Insulin infusion will be initiated when maternal capillary glucose exceeds 160 mg/dL. Once an insulin infusion is initiated, glucose monitoring frequency will occur by protocol. A hypoglycemia protocol is initiated if the maternal blood sugar is less than 60mg/dl.

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
Immediate postnatal Neonatal hypoglycemia
Time Frame: Within the first 24 hours after delivery.
Number of newborns with neonatal hypoglycemia, defined as a blood glucose of less than 45mg/dL
Within the first 24 hours after delivery.

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
Any neonatal hypoglycemia
Time Frame: Prior to neonatal discharge, up to 42 days after delivery.
Number of newborns with neonatal hypoglycemia, defined as a blood glucose of less than 45mg/dL
Prior to neonatal discharge, up to 42 days after delivery.
Mean neonatal blood glucose
Time Frame: Prior to neonatal discharge, up to 42 days after delivery.
Measured in mg/dL
Prior to neonatal discharge, up to 42 days after delivery.
Neonatal Hypoglycemia Requiring IV Treatment
Time Frame: Prior to neonatal discharge, up to 42 days after delivery.
number of newborns with hypoglycemia that requires IV treatment
Prior to neonatal discharge, up to 42 days after delivery.
NICU admission
Time Frame: Prior to discharge, up to 42 days after delivery.
Number of NICU admission for any indication.
Prior to discharge, up to 42 days after delivery.
Maternal Intrapartum Hyperglycemia
Time Frame: During labor( for up to 200 hours)
Number of participants that have hyperglycemia episodes. Hyperglycemia is defined as blood sugar levels greater than 180 mg/dl
During labor( for up to 200 hours)
Maternal intrapartum hypoglycemia
Time Frame: During labor( for up to 200 hours)
Number of participants that have hypoglycemia episodes. Hyp0glycemia is defined as blood sugar levels less than 60 mg/dl
During labor( for up to 200 hours)
Mean maternal intrapartum blood glucose
Time Frame: During labor( for up to 200 hours)
Overall mean maternal glucose values in mg/dl
During labor( for up to 200 hours)

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.
University of Pittsburgh

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: Praveen Ramesh, M.D., University of Pittsburgh

Publications and helpful links

The person responsible for entering information about the study voluntarily provides these publications. These may be about anything related to the study.

General Publications

Study record dates

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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.
December 3, 2024

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.
May 1, 2026

Study Completion (Estimated)

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.
July 31, 2026

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).
October 12, 2024

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.
October 14, 2024

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.
October 16, 2024

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.
June 8, 2026

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.
June 4, 2026

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.
June 1, 2026

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.
  • STUDY24050197

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

IPD Plan Description

There is currently no plan to make individual participant data available to other researchers. The findings are anticipated to be reported in standard specialty journals.

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.

Yes

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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