Jessop Wing Maternity Hospital, part of Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, has been confirmed as the UK's top recruiter to a major new study which could change how blood sugar is monitored during labour in people with gestational diabetes.
The GILD (Glucose Control in Labour with Diabetes) study is running across 37 NHS maternity units in the UK and is set to recruit 1,630 participants nationwide.
Jessop Wing have enrolled 126 patients into the study since opening as a study site in October 2025.
The trial, funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research, is investigating if less frequent finger-prick blood testing combined with monitoring of a wider blood sugar range is as safe and effective as the current standard of hourly testing.
Gestational diabetes affects approximately 8% of pregnant women, and although high blood sugar levels normally resolve after birth, it can impact maternal and infant health. Close monitoring during labour is therefore important to ensure target levels are maintained, reducing the risk of complications to mother and baby, particularly neonatal hypoglycaemia.
Improving outcomes
Patients enrolled into the study are randomly assigned to either 'tight' blood sugar monitoring or the 'more relaxed' approach. All participants are followed up until six weeks after birth. They can also share their views on the monitoring approaches in optional discussions around 12 weeks after birth.
Participants are also given the option to wear continuous glucose monitor on the back of their upper arm from 37 weeks of pregnancy. This automatically records blood sugar levels, although neither the participant nor the clinical team can see the sensor's readings during pregnancy. The data will then be used to assess how closely blood sugar levels align with the allocated monitoring strategy.
|The success of the GILD trial at Jessop Wing has been the result of a excellent collaboration between diabetes and maternity teams
Kimberley Clark, principal investigator of the study at Jessop Wing and gestational diabetes mellitus midwife, said: "We're thrilled to be taking part in this exciting study which could set a new standard of care for monitoring of blood sugar during labour. Studies like this also play a key role in improving maternity care, helping us understand which treatments and interventions are safe, responsive, and most comfortable for women during labour. Our success has been down to the fantastic efforts of our diabetes and maternity teams, the excellent research set-up and delivery we have here and all the Jessop Wing participants who have taken part so far."
Donards Tanedo, senior research charge nurse and research team leader at Jessop Wing, said: "This is a fantastic achievement which reflects the strong partnership between the clinical and research team. Our approach has ensured research is part of the maternity care pathway rather than something separate from it, and three key strategies have been integral to our success. This includes creating a dedicated space for research conversations in the antenatal clinic, linking recruitment with existing blood glucose teaching sessions and offering participants the opportunity to take part alongside routine clinical appointments. We really hope it makes a big difference to future generations who are the heart of everything we do."
All patients taking part will continue to have their antenatal blood glucose levels monitored in the usual way in line with the requirements of the clinical team.
Related articles:
- Praise for Jessop Wing after genetic study detects baby's rare eye cancer "out of the blue"
- New diabetes maternity research study opens at Jessop Wing
- Jessop Wing ranked 11th most improved maternity hospital in the country
