Gestational Diabetes Mellitus: Perspectives on Lifestyle Changes during Pregnancy and Post-partum, Physical Activity and the Prevention of Future Type 2 Diabetes

Abstract

This paper reports on a mixed methods study which sought to explore the role of physical activity in relation to the management of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM); the impact of a diagnosis of GDM on a woman’s life; follow-up support and factors that both hinder and support women to engage in physical activity post-partum in order to reduce their risk of developing future type 2 diabetes. Thirty-eight women who had a pregnancy complicated by GDM completed surveys. In-depth interviews were then conducted with a subset of eight women who completed these surveys, to further explore their experiences. Women reported making changes to their lifestyle to improve diet and engage in physical activity during pregnancy. These changes were harder to sustain after the baby was born. In this study few women underwent the recommended six-weekly oral glucose tolerance testing, and post-partum follow-up support was virtually non-existent. There is a clear role for health promotion across a number of sectors to support sustained behaviour change in this high-risk group of women. Factors are identified that could enhance follow-up support, particularly for lifestyle change.