Digital Health Strategies for GDM Postpartum Care and Type 2 Diabetes Prevention Among Saudi Women – A New Proposed Digital Health Initiative

Abstract

Women with a history of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) face a significantly increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), yet postpartum follow-up in Saudi Arabia remains to be improved. Timely screening and education are crucial to prevent disease progression and reduce national health burdens. This paper proposes an integrated care pathway to optimize postpartum management of GDM and reduce progression to T2DM. We recommend embedding NISAA+ within the Sehhaty application to automatically identify women with GDM, enabling home and clinic-based glucose monitoring with automated reminders for rescreening at 1–3 year intervals. We propose the establishment of a coordinated multidisciplinary model linking primary care and diabetes clinics with health educators, dietitians, and psychologists, with continuity supported within NISAA+. We also advocate for structured breastfeeding support, through lactation counseling, workplace advocacy, and digital tracking, as a cost-effective preventive strategy against type 2 diabetes progression. Lastly, we recommend synchronizing maternal postpartum diabetes screening with infant wellness visits at 6 weeks, 1 year, and 3 years to improve screening adherence and enable early detection of dysglycemia. This integrated approach would combine digital health infrastructure, multidisciplinary expertise, and synchronized monitoring to optimize maternal metabolic outcomes and reduce long-term diabetes risk.