At home testing to help women at risk of developing gestational diabetes
New home testing offers better access to healthcare for people who may not be able to get to a clinic.
Home testing will now be available to women who could be at risk of developing gestational diabetes during pregnancy.
The GTT@home test has been developed by digital clinical diagnostics and diabetes home testing provider Digostics, as the world’s first remote oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT).
The new testing kit is part of an initiative from Dartford & Gravesham NHS Trust to make gestational diabetes testing more accessible and improve health equity across their patient population.
Testing for gestational diabetes at home increases the accessibility of testing for all patients and addresses barriers to care for underserved patient groups who could face challenges with clinic-based testing due to travel limitations, parking and travel costs, loss of paid work and additional childcare costs.
Latest figures report that up to 20% of pregnancies in the UK are affected by gestational diabetes, which can lead to significant health risks if left undiagnosed.
These include perinatal complications, such as larger-than-average babies and emergency birth interventions, alongside long-term health challenges like increased risk of type 2 diabetes for both mothers and their children. Timely identification and management are critical to reducing these risks.
Picture: Gemma Whitbread, Dartford & Gravesham NHS Trust Antenatal Clinic Sister, holding the GTT@home test
For the traditional in-clinic testing, expectant mothers have to travel to a clinic early in the morning and undergo two blood draws spaced two hours apart while remaining fasted.
For many expectant mothers-to-be this process requires arranging childcare, taking time off work, and managing transportation. These obstacles can lead to missed appointments, delayed or missed diagnoses, and increased health risks.
By home testing these barriers can be removed, enabling women to conduct the same gold-standard of testing from the comfort of their homes, on the day most convenient to them.
Sadie Hafford, Diabetes Specialist Midwife at Dartford & Gravesham NHS Foundation Trust, said: “Reducing barriers to care is key to improving health outcomes. GTT@home allows us to reach women who may have struggled to attend clinic-based tests, making screening more inclusive and effective. This innovation marks a significant step forward in reducing healthcare disparities within our community.”
Home testing for gestational diabetes can ensure that every woman determined to be at-risk by their midwives has the opportunity for early detection and appropriate care, helping to address challenges in maternal health outcomes as outlined in NHS England's Core20PLUS5 framework, which focuses on reducing healthcare inequalities for the most deprived populations and underserved groups.
Valerie Elderkin, Interim Head of Midwifery, at Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust, said: “Our mission is to make use of digital health innovation to make it easier for everyone to get the care they need, especially those who are already disadvantaged when it comes to accessing healthcare.
“By adopting home-based diabetes screening, we are addressing health inequalities and demonstrating our commitment to accessible and inclusive care.”
The comprehensive at home testing kit is delivered directly to women at their home address. The kit contains the GTT@home test device, finger prickers for blood sample collection, a preformulated glucose drink, and detailed instructions. The process begins with an initial blood sample, followed by the consumption of the glucose drink. Two hours later, a second blood sample is taken. The GTT@home device immediately analyses both samples, ensuring accurate and timely results.
Non-English language versions of the kit and all supporting materials further ensure accessibility, particularly for underserved and minority populations.
Carla Ancillotti, Chief Technology Officer at Digostics, said: “Technology has the power to bridge gaps in healthcare access and create more equitable systems.
“By adopting this innovation, Dartford & Gravesham NHS Trust is setting a new standard in equitable and inclusive maternal health.”
James Jackson, CEO and Founder of Digostics, said: “We congratulate Dartford & Gravesham NHS Trust for their commitment to driving innovation in maternal healthcare. Their adoption of GTT@home demonstrates how forward-thinking healthcare providers can break down barriers to care and ensure equitable access for all women. We are proud to partner with them in this transformative step towards better health outcomes.”
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