Cal Poly Receives Federal Funding for Gestational Diabetes Prevention Program

Statement

Today, Rep. Lois Capps (CA-24) congratulated Cal Poly on receiving $604,504 in federal funding from the National Institute of Health (NIH) to fund ongoing research focused on preventing the onset of gestational diabetes. Gestational diabetes develops during pregnancy and can cause high blood sugar that can affect the health of both the pregnant woman and the baby.

"I am so impressed by the state-of-the-art research taking place at Cal Poly on preventing the onset of gestational diabetes," Capps said. "This ailment can lead to severe pregnancy and delivery complications, and have lasting effects on both mom and baby. With hundreds of thousands of women diagnosed each year, this research can have a real impact on women and families across the country."

"More than 200,000 women in the U.S. are diagnosed with gestational diabetes mellitus each year and are likely to experience several severe pregnancy complications, and long-term development of type 2 diabetes, and other major chronic diseases," said Dr. Suzanne Phelan, Professor of Kinesiology at Cal Poly. "The Gestational Diabetes Prevention Program is examining whether lifestyle modifications that reduce body weight before pregnancy can reduce the recurrence of gestational diabetes and improve maternal biomarkers of insulin resistance and cardiovascular disease."

Source