Effect of Dietary Intervention Designed with Behavior Change Wheel on Compliance with Dietary Control in Women with Gestational Diabetes Mellitus: Study Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial

Background and Purpose: Previous studies have shown that women with GDM can benefit from following dietary recommendations, which are based on food exchange serving (FES) and glycemic load (GL), but compliance with dietary recommendations in women with GDM is not ideal. Therefore, the aim of this paper is to design a dietary intervention program based on behavior change wheel (BCW) to affect GDM women’s compliance with FES based on GL, and to compare the effects of this dietary intervention program versus general dietary management on compliance with dietary recommendations, improving maternal glucose metabolism, and reducing adverse pregnancy outcomes in women with GDM. Methods: This paper is a methodological description of a two-arm randomized controlled trial. In this study, eligible women with GDM will be recruited and divided into the control group (n = 30) and the intervention group (n = 30). Women with GDM will respectively receive general dietary management (control group) and dietary intervention designed with BCW (intervention group) until after delivery. Information about pregnant women will be collected through questionnaires or prenatal and delivery records. Conclusion: This randomized controlled trial is designed specifically for women with GDM to achieve effective blood glucose control by strengthening GDM women’s compliance with dietary recommendations. If this dietary intervention designed with BCW proves to be effective, then BCW may deserve to be applied to more areas of self-management in women with GDM.