Faculty of Health Sciences and Sport, University of Stirling, Stirling, UK.
Diabet Med. 2018 Apr;35(4):519-529. doi: 10.1111/dme.13580. Epub 2018 Feb 6.
Women with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) are at increased risk of Type 2 diabetes. This study aimed to explore experiences, knowledge and perceptions of women with GDM to inform the design of interventions to prevent or delay Type 2 diabetes.
Semi-structured interviews were carried out with 16 women with GDM who were recruited from a clinic in one Scottish health board. A framework approach was used to manage and analyse data according to themes informed by psychological theory (self-regulation model and theory of planned behaviour).
GDM is not seen as an important, or even real diagnosis among some women, and this perception may result from the perceived minimal impact of GDM on their lives. Some women did experience a bigger emotional and practical impact. Knowledge and understanding of Type 2 diabetes was poor in general and many women were unconcerned about their future risk. Lower concern appeared to be linked to a lower perceived impact of GDM. Lifestyle changes discussed by women mostly related to diet and were motivated primarily by concern for their baby's health. Many women did not maintain these changes postnatally, reporting significant barriers.
This study has suggested potential avenues to be explored in terms of content, timing and potential recipients of interventions. Educational interventions postnatally could address illness perceptions in women with GDM and redress the situation where lack of aftercare downplays its seriousness. For lifestyle interventions, the child's health could be used as a motivator within the context of later joint or family interventions.
患有妊娠糖尿病（GDM）的女性患 2 型糖尿病的风险增加。本研究旨在探讨 GDM 女性的经历、知识和看法，为预防或延迟 2 型糖尿病的干预措施设计提供信息。
对来自苏格兰一个卫生委员会诊所的 16 名 GDM 女性进行了半结构化访谈。采用框架方法根据心理理论（自我调节模型和计划行为理论）中提出的主题来管理和分析数据。
在一些女性中，GDM 并不被视为一个重要的甚至是真实的诊断，这种看法可能是由于 GDM 对她们生活的影响被认为是微不足道的。一些女性确实经历了更大的情绪和实际影响。一般来说，女性对 2 型糖尿病的知识和理解都很差，许多女性并不关心自己未来的患病风险。较低的关注度似乎与对 GDM 影响的感知较低有关。女性讨论的生活方式改变主要与饮食有关，主要是出于对婴儿健康的担忧。许多女性在产后并没有维持这些改变，报告了重大障碍。
本研究提出了一些潜在的途径，可从内容、时间和干预措施的潜在接受者等方面进行探讨。产后教育干预可以改变 GDM 女性对疾病的看法，并纠正由于缺乏后续护理而淡化其严重性的情况。对于生活方式的干预，可以利用孩子的健康作为动机，在以后的联合或家庭干预中进行。
