Impact of mHealth-Enhanced Prenatal Education and Diet Recording on Gestational Diabetes Mellitus Prevention

Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (GDM) is a common metabolic disorder during pregnancy, raising significant health risks to both mother and child. With the advent of mobile health (mHealth) technologies, there is a growing potential to enhance GDM prevention strategies. This study investigates the impact of mobile-based prenatal education and diet recording on GDM prevention, utilizing the self-management application of the Peking Union Medical College Hospital mHealth-Enhanced Prenatal Care Program in Beijing, China. We retrospectively analyzed records from 1,666 pregnant women enrolled in the program from May 2021 to July 2022, with an average age of 32 years. Of these, 378 participants (22.7%) engaged actively in the program. Our analysis reveals that active participation in both prenatal education and diet recording from early pregnancy significantly reduces the incidence of GDM, with an odds ratio (OR) of 0.37, and a p-value of 0.034. This real-world study highlights the potential of mHealth applications to enhance prenatal care and establish more effective GDM prevention strategies.