Evaluation of mobile applications in the control and management of Gestational diabetes mellitus: a systematic review

Background and Aims: Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), as a common metabolic disease in the world, causes significant and persistent complications for the mother and baby. Elevated risk of type ۲ diabetes and heart disease in the mother are among these complications. Assessment and control of the condition of the mother with GDM through nutritional interventions and blood sugar monitoring during pregnancy using digital methods can be helpful. This study evaluates the effectiveness of mobile applications in the control and management of GDM. Methods: This systematic review was conducted in ۲۰۲۵ by searching the databases Scopus, Web of Science, PubMed and Google Scholar search engine. The keywords GDM, mHealth, mobile application, and telemedicine were examined in relevant studies between ۲۰۱۸ and ۲۰۲۵. English-language studies that examined the effect of mobile applications in the management of GDM met the inclusion criteria. Also, review studies and studies that did not focus on patients with GDM were excluded from the study. Results: A total of ۷۷ articles were retrieved from the aforementioned databases. After studying the titles and abstracts of the articles and considering the inclusion and exclusion criteria, ۷ articles were finally included in the study. In one article (۱۴.۳%) the application did not create a significant difference between the intervention and control groups; in one other article (۱۴.۳%) fasting plasma glucose levels improved and GDM risk factors were reduced; in two articles (۲۸.۵%) the application was able to improve health-related habits and behaviors but did not lead to clinical effects; in another article (۱۴.۳%) the application controlled blood sugar despite causing deficiencies in some minerals; two articles (۲۸.۵%) are still under study and their results have not been published. Conclusion: The findings of this study showed that the use of mobile applications is effective for managing gestational diabetes and maintaining fetal health. Mobile applications also elevated nutritional self-care in patients with GDM, which led to a promising increase in the quality of life of patients. Further studies are needed to confirm its sustained clinical effects on glycemic control and

کلیدواژه ها:

Gestational diabetes mellitus ، GDM ، mHealth ، mobile application ، telemedicine