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After nearly 28 years, The Communication Initiative (The CI) Global is entering a new chapter. 

Following a period of transition, the global website has been transferred to the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits) in South Africa, where it will be administered by the Social and Behaviour Change Communication Division. Wits' commitment to social change and justice makes it a trusted steward for The CI's legacy and future. 

On the transfer, co-founder Victoria Martin expressed her pleasure to see this work continue under Wits' leadership, knowing that co-founder Warren Feek (1953–2024) would have felt deep pride in The CI Global's Africa-led direction. 

As Wits, we honour the team and partners who sustained The CI for decades and look forward building from that strong base. This includes co-founders Warren Feek (1953-2024) and Victoria Martin as well as La Iniciativa de Comunicación (CILA), which continues independently at lainiciativadecomunicacion.com with links to The CI Global site. We are also eager to forge new partnerships and entertain new ideas as we consider how best to contribute to social and behaviour change in our rapidly evolving environment.

If you are joining the International Social and Behaviour Change Communication (SBCC) Summit in Panama, please join Wits and CILA on Monday, 22 June, to share your thoughts and suggestion for the relaunch of the Communication Initiative. We will be in Pacifica 5 from 12-1:25 for the Refuel, Reflect, and Renew Lunch Series: The Communication Initiative: celebrating a driving force for Communication for Social Change and the way forward. We will reflect on the legacy of Warren Feek and family in creating the Communication Initiative, consider the contributions of CI over the years and then turn our attention towards the future in this dynamic session. 

If you are unable to join us in Panama, we still want to hear from you. Please contribute your thoughts by following this link: https://redcap.link/CommunicationInitiative2026 or reaching out to ci_surveys@commint.com. 

You can also follow the QR Code:

 https://redcap.link/CommunicationInitiative2026

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A medical nutrition therapy program improves perinatal outcomes in Mexican pregnant women with gestational diabetes and type 2 diabetes mellitus

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Perichart-Perera, O., M. Balas-Nakash, et al. (2009). "A medical nutrition therapy program improves perinatal outcomes in Mexican pregnant women with gestational diabetes and type 2 diabetes mellitus." Diabetes Educ 35(6): 1004-1013.

INTRODUCTION: Diabetes in pregnancy is a major public health problem in Mexico. Nutrition therapy is an important component of treatment. Intensive nutrition intervention has not been implemented for Mexican pregnant women with diabetes. Its effect on different types of diabetes mellitus has not been studied.

PURPOSE: The authors assessed the effect of a medical nutrition therapy (MNT) program on perinatal complications in Mexico City.

METHODS: Quasi-experimental design with a historical control. Women were assigned to a MNT program (n = 88) and were followed up with every 2 weeks until delivery (2004-2007). The control group (n = 86) was selected from medical charts (2001-2003) and the same inclusion criteria were used. In each group, 55% of women had type 2 diabetes mellitus and 45% had gestational diabetes. The MNT program included a moderate intake of carbohydrate (40%-45% of total energy) and reduction in energy intake, capillary glucose self-monitoring, and education. The control group received usual hospital routine care. Statistical analysis included descriptive statistics, chi-square, and multivariate logistic regression (OR, 95% CI) as indicated.

RESULTS: Women in the MNT program had a lower risk of preeclampsia, fewer maternal hospitalization, and neonatal deaths in both types of diabetes. Low birth weight was less frequent only in women with gestational diabetes receiving MNT, while neonatal intensive care unit admissions were lower only in women with type 2 diabetes.

CONCLUSIONS: An intensive MNT program, including counseling, education, and capillary glucose self-monitoring, has a positive effect over preeclampsia, maternal hospitalization, and neonatal death in women with diabetes in pregnancy. MNT guidelines should be implemented in Mexican health care facilities treating diabetes in pregnancy.