Interdisciplinary GDM Unit Lausanne

In our unit we conduct numerous research projects to improve the metabolic and mental health across generations, of the women, their partners and their children.

The main focus of our research is on the perinatal period and in particular in pregnant women suffering from gestational diabetes (GDM). We attempt to assess the impact of different lifestyles on their health and integrate new technologies to in order to improve the quality of life and health of our patients.

The National Fund for Scientific Research and the Leenaards Foundation support several of our research projects.

Learn more about our clinical management (in french)

Improving the management of gestational diabetes

In several cohort studies, we are investigating the impact of our current management of gestational diabetes on mental and metabolic health with the aim to improve clinical care.

Improving metabolic and mental health in women with gestational diabetes and their children

We are investigating this through patient cohorts and a randomized controlled trial that explores the beneficial effects of an interdisciplinary and personalized intervention in gestational diabetes (MySweetheart Trial). The intervention takes into account diet, eating behavior, breastfeeding, physical activity, sleep and the emotional well-being of the women.

Learn more:MySweetheart cohort

FoodyBrain Study

Food cravings are common in pregnancy and along with emotional eating and eating in the absence of hunger, they are associated with excessive weight gain and adverse effects on metabolic health including gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). Food cravings can lead to greater activity in brain regions known to be involved in food 'wanting' and reward valuation as well as emotional eating. Thus, there is a great need to link implicit brain responses to food with explicit measures of food intake behavior, especially in the perinatal period. In FoodyBrain study we aim to investigate the spatiotemporal brain dynamics to visual presentations of food in women during pregnancy and in the postpartum, and link these brain responses to the eating behavior and metabolic health outcomes in women with and without GDM.

FOODY Play Study

Pregnancy is a unique period marked by numerous physiological and psychological changes. Cravings in women have been shown to increase in frequency and intensity during pregnancy and have been linked to an excessive gestational weight gain. To our knowledge, there is not a clear understanding of the brain mechanisms in response to food cravings during pregnancy. In FOODY Play study, we aim to investigate brain and behavioral responses to food cues in pregnant women during their second and third trimesters, focusing on how these responses associate with metabolic and mental health outcomes. This is an ongoing study.

Food intake, sleep, and glycemic values in women with Gestational Diabetes

Elevated morning fasting blood glucose levels are often observed in women with gestational diabetes. Clinical observations and existing literature suggest that variations in sleep and food choices may influence glycemic levels and their fluctuations. However, the specific relationships between these factors and fasting hyperglycemia in GDM remain underexplored. This study aims to investigate how variations in sleep and food intake are associated with glycemic levels and their variations on a daily level, with the objective of identifying approaches that can improve the management of gestational diabetes.

Maternal gut microbiota-embryo interplay during pregnancy and risks of obesity in the offspring

The growing prevalence of obesity and type 2 diabetes, particularly among children, highlights the importance of understanding the role of gut bacteria in fermenting non-digestible dietary fiber and producing short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs). Research in rodent models has shown that maternal nutrition and SCFAs significantly influence the development of the nervous system, which regulates energy balance and glucose homeostasis. However, more research is needed to determine if similar mechanisms exist in humans. We aim to explore gut-brain communication during critical developmental stages to identify strategies for preventing neurological and metabolic disorders, focusing on the impact of maternal fiber intake and SCFA levels during pregnancy on children's metabolic health.

Metabolism after childbirth and internal clocks

The disruption of the internal clock rhythm is particularly marked in the first months after delivery. Our aim is to assess whether this disruption can be linked to metabolic disorders.

This study explores the links between internal (circadian) clocks, eating and sleeping patterns and their influence on metabolism in the months following childbirth.

This study is carried out in collaboration with our partners from the University of Geneva.

Prevention of pediatric obesity 

We are conducting several projects that aim to better understand and prevent pediatric obesity using a global approach. These projects are carried out in collaboration with other partners from the Universities of Basel, Fribourg, Geneva and Zurich.

• Splashy Study:
  “SPLASHY”:  the Swiss Preschooler's Health Study, is a national survey on the health of preschool children in Switzerland. The study investigates how stress and physical activity can influence the physical and psychological development of children.
  Read more
• Ballabeina study
  This study is a randomized controlled trial that studies the impact of a multidimensional intervention in migrant populations on the health of pre-schoolers.
• KISS study
  This study is a randomized controlled trial that studies the impact of physical activity on the health of prepubertal schoolchildren.
  Read more

Links between physical activity and diabetes 

• DIAfit study
  Together with other partners in the French-speaking part of Switzerland, we are conducting a study evaluating the impact of a national physical activity program (DIAfit) in patients with type 2 diabetes. Its objective is to allow patients to initiate physical activity under the supervision of a multidisciplinary specialist team.

Collaboration with other projects

• START
• ICAD
• NCD

Our findings and discovery