Using mHealth for gestational diabetes management: Insights from a long-term real-world multisite evaluation
1
Australian e-Health Research Centre, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, Brisbane, Australia
2
School of Public Health, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
Popul. Med. 2026;8(Supplement Supplement 1):
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
Growing evidence suggests that mobile health (mHealth) platforms are safe and effective in managing gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM)[1]. However, there remains limited evidence on the real-world long-term use of mHealth outside of traditional trial conditions. This study evaluated the use of M♡THer, a digital platform consisting of a patient-facing smartphone application and health provider dashboard[2], across four Australian hospital-based GDM services between July 2020 and September 2025.
METHODS:
A mixed-methods evaluation was conducted using platform data (blood glucose entries, usage duration, adherence patterns); patient surveys (antenatally and postnatally); and a health care provider (HCP) survey informed by UTAUT[3], with supplementary interviews.
RESULTS:
All sites incorporated the platform into routine care, with 9,428 women diagnosed with GDM, registered for monitoring. Usage duration averaged 104 days between “program commenced” and “gestational due-date”; 7,558 women (80%) had complete and valid BGL data for analysis (1.65 million BGL readings). Between 58% and 76% of women adhered to monitoring recommendations (logging ≥3 BGLs/day), while 1.3% had low adherence (logging <1 time per day). Overall, 92.2% of readings were within target range (3.5–7.5 mmol/L), consistent with expected glycaemic control in routine care. Patient feedback (n=736) was overwhelmingly positive. Post birth, 93.8% of women reported finding the app helpful, 83.7% improved confidence managing their GDM, and 92.2% were satisfied with their HCP care. Among HCPs (n=44), 88.5% found the platform useful, 86.3% used it to improve efficiency of clinical decision processes, and 81.7% agreed the platform fit with routine care.
CONCLUSIONS:
This large, multisite evaluation demonstrates that an mHealth platform can be incorporated into routine hospital GDM care and used over extended periods across diverse services. Findings suggest that the primary challenge for digital GDM care is no longer clinical effectiveness, but the organisational conditions required to support equitable uptake, sustained use, and long term integration.
Growing evidence suggests that mobile health (mHealth) platforms are safe and effective in managing gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM)[1]. However, there remains limited evidence on the real-world long-term use of mHealth outside of traditional trial conditions. This study evaluated the use of M♡THer, a digital platform consisting of a patient-facing smartphone application and health provider dashboard[2], across four Australian hospital-based GDM services between July 2020 and September 2025.
METHODS:
A mixed-methods evaluation was conducted using platform data (blood glucose entries, usage duration, adherence patterns); patient surveys (antenatally and postnatally); and a health care provider (HCP) survey informed by UTAUT[3], with supplementary interviews.
RESULTS:
All sites incorporated the platform into routine care, with 9,428 women diagnosed with GDM, registered for monitoring. Usage duration averaged 104 days between “program commenced” and “gestational due-date”; 7,558 women (80%) had complete and valid BGL data for analysis (1.65 million BGL readings). Between 58% and 76% of women adhered to monitoring recommendations (logging ≥3 BGLs/day), while 1.3% had low adherence (logging <1 time per day). Overall, 92.2% of readings were within target range (3.5–7.5 mmol/L), consistent with expected glycaemic control in routine care. Patient feedback (n=736) was overwhelmingly positive. Post birth, 93.8% of women reported finding the app helpful, 83.7% improved confidence managing their GDM, and 92.2% were satisfied with their HCP care. Among HCPs (n=44), 88.5% found the platform useful, 86.3% used it to improve efficiency of clinical decision processes, and 81.7% agreed the platform fit with routine care.
CONCLUSIONS:
This large, multisite evaluation demonstrates that an mHealth platform can be incorporated into routine hospital GDM care and used over extended periods across diverse services. Findings suggest that the primary challenge for digital GDM care is no longer clinical effectiveness, but the organisational conditions required to support equitable uptake, sustained use, and long term integration.
| eISSN: | 2654-1459 |
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