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CompletedNCT01215331DG5Updated May 3, 2018

Gestational Diabetes: Insulin or Oral Hypoglycemic Agents?

A Phase 3 interventional study of Insulin and Metformin, glyburide and insulin in Gestational Diabetes Mellitus, sponsored by Université de Sherbrooke. Completed at 1 site in Canada. Open to female participants aged 18 Years and older. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2018-05-03.

Sponsored by Université de Sherbrooke · Phase 3, Interventional, and Treatment

Phase
Phase 3
Study type
Interventional
Enrollment
73
Allocation
Randomized
Ages
18 Years and older
Sex
Female
01

Study summary

Gestational diabetes mellitus takes place in 2 steps. First, it is the consequence of insulin resistance due to the modifications of the pregnancy hormonal environment, and second, of the deficiency of the beta cells of the pancreas to respond by a sufficient insulin secretion. This physiopathology is closely connected to the one of type 2 diabetes. Insulin, indeed, can remedy these 2 etiologies, but it is logical to think about using oral hypoglycemic agents which have been created to treat them: they are a natural choice because they improve insulin sensitivity (metformin, a biguanide) or insulin secretion (glyburide, a sulfonylurea). It also seems natural to use them in combination, glyburide being added to metformin if needed.

OUR GENERAL RESEARCH HYPOTHESIS IS THAT: in pregnant women with gestational diabetes mellitus, using both oral hypoglycemic agents (glyburide added to metformin if needed) allows a glycemic control comparable to the one obtained with insulin, but with a better acceptability from women and a better health status, diabetes treatment satisfaction and well-being and a reduced postnatal depression.

02

Conditions studied

  • Gestational Diabetes Mellitus

Keywords

  • Gestational Diabetes Mellitus
  • Treatment
  • Insulin
  • Metformin
  • Glyburide
03

In context

Diabetes, Gestational

842 studies on the registry are indexed under Diabetes, Gestational; 199 are open to participants now.

This study's enrollment of 73 is below the median of 110 across 549 interventional studies indexed under Diabetes, Gestational.

Browse Diabetes, Gestational studies →

Lead sponsor

Université de Sherbrooke is the lead sponsor of 289 studies on the registry; 68 are open to participants now.

Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.

04

Who can participate

Ages eligible
18 Years and older
Sexes eligible
Female
Accepts healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

  • women,
  • age ≥ 18 yrs,
  • with gestational diabetes at 24-28 weeks (Canadian Diabetes Association (CDA) criteria),
  • who need a pharmacological treatment following the failure of the diet and exercise,
  • to understand and read French or English.

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion Criteria:

  • known type 1 or type 2 diabetes,
  • treatment interfering with glucose metabolism,
  • allergies to one of the components of the treatment,
  • hepatic or hematologic diseases.
05

Study design

Phase
Phase 3
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Randomized
Intervention model
Parallel assignment
Masking
None (open label)
Enrollment
73 participants (actual)

Study arms

  • Active comparator
    Insulin

    Rapid acting insulin and long acting insulin

    Drug: Insulin

  • Experimental
    Oral Hypoglycemic Agents

    Metformin + glyburide + insulin if needed

    Drug: Metformin, glyburide and insulin

Interventions

  • DrugInsulin

    Insulins most commonly used during pregnancy by our group are rapid acting insulins and long acting human insulins (long acting analogs are not authorized in pregnancy). An ultra-fast acting insulin will be started before a meal (1, 2 or 3 meals) at 4-6 IU (according to the weight) if the glycemic value 2 hours after this meal is ≥ 6.7 mmol/L in 50% of cases. It will be increased by 2 units every 2 days until obtaining the aimed objectives. Long acting insulin will be started at 4-6 units at bedtime if the glycemic value before breakfast is ≥ 5.3 mmol/L in 50% of cases, and it will be increased by 2 units every 2 days until reaching the objective. A combination of both insulins could be necessary (maximum of 4 injections per day).

  • DrugMetformin, glyburide and insulin

    Metformin (tablets of 500 mg) will be started at 250 mg/day x 1 day, and increased thereafter by 250 mg per day every 3 days until obtaining an adequate glycemic control. If metformin does not prove its effect at a dose of 750 mg, or if the side effects (mainly gastric) command to slow down or not to increase the posology, glyburide will be added. Glyburide (tablets of 5 mg) will be started at a dose of 2.5 mg and will be increased by 2.5 mg every 3 days until obtaining an adequate glycemic control. The maximal dose in the study will bw 10 mg. It corresponds to the half of the maximal dose recommended in Canada. Treatment failure is defined as glycemia above the Canadian Diabetes Association therapeutic objectives in spite of maximal doses or whether the doses can not be increased because of side effects. Insulin will be added to oral hypoglycemic agents.

06

What researchers measure

Primary outcomes

  1. Glycemic control

    Mean of the capillary glycemic control at 36 and 37th week of gestation.

    Time frame: 36 and 37th week of gestation

Secondary outcomes

  1. Acceptability of the treatment

    Time frame: 8-12 weeks after delivery

07

Study locations

1 site
  • Centre de recherche clinique du CHUS
    Sherbrooke, Quebec J1H 5N4, Canada
08

Updates

Tracking since Sep 25, 2026
No changes since tracking began. The registry record was last updated on May 3, 2018, before this site started recording changes on Sep 25, 2026. Its history is on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
09

Registry details

Key details

Study ID
NCT01215331
Lead sponsor
Université de Sherbrooke
Collaborators
Fonds de la Recherche en Santé du Québec
Responsible party
Jean-Luc Ardilouze (Endocrinologist, researcher, Université de Sherbrooke) — Principal investigator
First posted
Oct 6, 2010
Start date
Aug 2010
Primary completion
Apr 2014
Completion
May 2016
Last update
May 3, 2018

Study contacts

Jean-Luc Ardilouze, MD, PhD
principal investigator · Université de Sherbrooke

Oversight

Data monitoring committee
Yes
View the source record on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

Not currently enrolling

This study is completed, as verified in May 2018. You cannot join it, but the record below documents what was studied.

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