AIIMS, in collaboration with George Institute for Global Health, will initiate a research project on preventing development of type 2 diabetes in women with a history of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM).
The research involves conducting a randomised trial of a lifestyle modification programme to determine whether it can be applied and affordably brought to scale in Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and India.
"The research project is to find an intervention on how lifestyle modification programme can delay the onset of type 2 diabetes in women with GDM. It has been shown in research settings that healthy diet and physical activity aimed at weight reduction can delay or prevent the development of diabetes in women with GDM, but we do not know how to best achieve such behavioural changes," said Nikhil Tandon, Head of Endocrinology at AIIMS.
As per the International Diabetes Federation (2013), approximately 50 per cent of all people with diabetes live in just three countries -- China (98.4 million), India (65.1 million) and the USA (24.4 million).
Type 2 diabetes occurs when the body is still producing insulin but not using it effectively. It's known as insulin resistance.
GDM is a major problem in pregnancy as the placenta that makes hormones that helps the baby to grow and develop block the action of the mother's insulin.
"The hormones of pregnancy causes resistance to the actions of insulin and lead to higher blood sugar levels in women who have risk factors for diabetes.
"Previously thought to be a relatively benign condition, it is now known that having GDM puts women at high risk of subsequently developing type 2 diabetes - a condition that needs lifelong treatment and is associated with a number of serious complications," he said.
