Glucose Levels and Outcomes in Women - Mid Pregnancy (GLOW)

Up to 75% of reproductive age women are overweight, 40% are considered obese, and the prevalence of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) continues to rise, from 6% to 8.3% between 2016 and 2021. Currently understood GDM risk factors, such as advanced maternal age, prior history of GDM, family history of diabetes, and socioeconomic status can only explain up to 50% of cases. Related factors such as body image dissatisfaction, eating behaviors, and daily stress exposure have been linked to blood sugar metabolization, pregnancy outcomes, and the normative physiological changes that occur during pregnancy. These interrelated mechanisms may serve as additional risk factors that could help identify other women at risk of GDM. This project aims to investigate how body image dissatisfaction, eating behaviors, and daily stress exposure are associated with the metabolization of blood sugar during pregnancy.

In this study the Strahm Lab will recruit 50 pregnant women to participate in a study assessing blood sugar metabolization as it is related to stress, body image dissatisfaction, and eating behaviors. The study will use continuous glucose monitoring in concert with an ecological momentary assessment protocol to assess these interrelated factors over the course of 10 days between 14 and 28 weeks gestation.

Study Overview

• Status: Not yet recruiting
• Conditions: Pregnancy

• Study Type: Observational
• Enrollment (Estimated): 50

Contacts and Locations

• Study Contact: Name: Grace Biermann, MPH; Phone Number: 605-312-6457; Email: strahmlab@sanfordhealth.org

Study Locations

• United States
  • North Dakota
    • Fargo, North Dakota, United States, 58104
      • Sanford Health
      • Contact: Grace Biermann, MPH; Phone Number: 605-312-6457; Email: grace.biermann@sanfordhealth.org
      • Principal Investigator: Anna M. Strahm, PhD
    • Fargo, North Dakota, United States, 58102
      • North Dakota State University
      • Contact: Grace Biermann, MPH; Phone Number: 605-312-6457; Email: grace.biermann@sanfordhealth.org
      • Sub-Investigator: Clayton J. Hilmert, PhD
  • South Dakota
    • Sioux Falls, South Dakota, United States, 57104
      • Sanford Health
      • Contact: Grace Biermann, MPH; Phone Number: 605-312-6457; Email: grace.biermann@sanfordhealth.org
      • Principal Investigator: Anna M. Strahm, PhD

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Adult; Older Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

The investigators will recruit 50 pregnant women prior to their 28th week of gestation from Sanford Health prenatal care providers in the Sioux Falls, SD, and Fargo, ND, areas.

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• At least 18 years old
• Healthy single baby pregnancy
• 14 to 28 weeks of pregnancy

Exclusion Criteria:

• history of diabetes
• history of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM)
• history of cardiac disease
• history of endocrine disease
• assistive reproductive technology (IVF)

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Continuous Blood Glucose via Dexcom G7	Participant will wear a Dexcom G7 CGM for 10 days to measure blood glucose levels (mg/dL)	10 days
Body Image in Pregnancy Scale (BIPS)	Participants will complete the full Body Image in Pregnancy Scale (BIPS) once prior to the start of the 10 day CGM/momentary assessment period and once at the end. The full BIPS scale is 36 items. It assesses body image dissatisfaction. Participants rate each item from one (strongly disagree) to five (strongly agree). Generally, lower scores indicate higher body satisfaction, while higher scores indicate higher levels of pregnancy-related body dissatisfaction/stress due to body image. Participants will receive 8 items from the scale to assess preoccupation with physical appearance and sexual attractiveness, prioritization of physical appearance over body functioning, appearance related behavioral avoidance, and dissatisfaction with body parts at least 5 times each day during the 10 day CGM/momentary assessment period. The full BIPS will be completed in REDCap. Momentary assessments will be completed via Real Time Assessment In the Natural Environment (ReTAINE).	10 days

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Sanford Health
• Collaborators: North Dakota State University
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Anna M. Strahm, PhD, Sanford Health

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Estimated): May 1, 2026
• Primary Completion (Estimated): May 1, 2027
• Study Completion (Estimated): May 1, 2028

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: May 11, 2026
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: May 18, 2026
• First Posted (Actual): May 20, 2026

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): May 20, 2026
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: May 18, 2026
• Last Verified: May 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: pregnancy; stress; blood sugar; body image
• Other Study ID Numbers: SH-GLOW

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