ATLANTIC DIP, Changing the Landscape for Better Maternal and Infant Health: The 2024 Norbert Freinkel Award Lecture

Abstract

The Norbert Freinkel Award recognizes contribution of research, clinical practice, and advocacy to improving pregnancy outcomes for women with diabetes. This award honors a man of outstanding achievements. Norbert was a forward-thinking investigator, a concise and precise writer, and a gifted clinical practitioner. His philosophy stated that a research question should be framed around an unsolved patient problem, a solution should be sought at several levels and across several disciplines, and the solution should be shared and applied to the problem. The Atlantic Diabetes in Pregnancy (ATLANTIC DIP) network has followed this philosophy. Women now achieve better pregnancy preparation and have lower blood glucose and lower glycated hemoglobin with improved pregnancy outcomes. Screening and follow-up for gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is consistent. The trial on early metformin in addition to usual care in the reduction of GDM effects (A Randomized Placebo-Controlled Trial of the Effectiveness of Metformin in Addition to Usual Care in the Reduction of Gestational Diabetes Mellitus Effects [EMERGE]) provides evidence for metformin use in pregnancies complicated by GDM as an alternative to insulin. Learnings and evidence from ATLANTIC DIP have shaped national policy and guidelines and have contributed to global knowledge in this area. We continue to strive for excellence and equity of care and normalization of perinatal outcomes.