Prenatal counseling on type 2 diabetes risk, exercise, and nutrition affects the likelihood of postpartum diabetes screening after gestational diabetes

Gestational diabetes knowledge improves with interactive online training modules

BACKGROUND

The risk of developing type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is up to 50% among women with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). However, diabetes education during and after pregnancy is limited. To bridge this gap, our team developed four training modules on GDM for nurses and community health workers. This pilot study assesses changes in knowledge, self-efficacy for providing diabetes education, attitudes, and intentions to recommend diabetes prevention before and after training completion.

METHODS

Interactive online modules were disseminated to clinical staff providing care for women with GDM in the United States. Optional pre- and post-training surveys were conducted to gauge the effectiveness of the modules. GDM knowledge (scoring 0-100) was evaluated with a 23 question assessment with total score and individual module scores reported [(# correct/# total)*100]. Self-efficacy for providing diabetes education (scoring 1-10) was evaluated with a 15-question survey and intention to recommend diabetes prevention (scoring 1-5) was assessed with an 8-item survey. Attitudes were assessed with three subscales of the Diabetes Attitude Scale (scoring 1-5). Changes in scores on each scale before and after training are reported using non-parametric Wilcoxon matched-pair signed rank tests.

RESULTS

Eighty-two individuals completed baseline evaluation and 20 individuals accessed all modules and completed post-training assessments. Among those completing the training, improvement was noted in GDM knowledge [56.5 (16.0) v. 78.3 (22.0), p < 0.001], self-efficacy for providing diabetes education [6.60 (2.73) v. 9.33 (0.87), p < 0.001], attitudes toward the value of tight control [4.07 (0.79) v. 4.43 (0.86), p = 0.003], and intentions to recommend diabetes prevention measures [4.81 (0.63) v. 5.00 (0.00), p = 0.009)].

CONCLUSIONS

Completion of our interactive online modules improved knowledge, intention to recommend diabetes prevention, self-efficacy to provide diabetes education, and attitudes toward the value of tight control among individuals caring for women with GDM.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

This study was registered at clinicaltrials.gov, identifier: NCT04474795.

Gestational diabetes knowledge improves with interactive online training modules: a pre-post analysis

Background

The risk of developing type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is up to 50% among women with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). GDM also increases risks for pre-term birth, macrosomia, fetal hypoglycemia, and C-section delivery. Education for expectant mothers with GDM about nutrition, exercise, and the risks of developing T2DM after delivery enhances the probability of postpartum diabetes screening. However, the availability of diabetes education is limited. To bridge this gap, our team developed four training modules on GDM tailored for nurses and community health workers. This pilot study assesses changes in knowledge, self-efficacy for providing diabetes education, attitudes, and intentions to recommend diabetes prevention before and after training completion.

Methods

These interactive online modules, each lasting 45-60 minutes and featuring engaging case studies and integrated knowledge assessment questions, were disseminated through various professional organizations to clinical staff providing care for women with GDM. Optional pre- and post-training surveys were conducted to gauge the effectiveness of the modules. Collected data did not follow a normal distribution pattern. We provided an overview of the baseline characteristics of the population, self-efficacy, attitudes, intentions, and GDM knowledge by calculating the median scores and interquartile ranges. We assessed the changes in scores on self-efficacy, attitudes, intentions, and GDM knowledge before and after training using non-parametric Wilcoxon matched-pair signed rank tests.

Results

Eighty-two individuals completed baseline evaluation and 20 individuals accessed all modules and completed post-training assessments. Among those completing the training, improvement was noted in GDM knowledge [56.5% (16.0) v. 78.3% (22.0), p < 0.001], Self-efficacy for providing diabetes education [6.60 (2.73) v. 9.33 (0.87), p < 0.001], attitudes toward the value of tight control [4.07 (0.79) v. 4.43 (0.86), p = 0.003], and intentions to recommend diabetes prevention measures [4.81 (0.63) v. 5.00 (0.00), p = 0.009)].

Conclusions

Completion of our interactive online modules improved knowledge, intention to recommend diabetes prevention methods, self-efficacy to provide diabetes education, and attitudes toward the value of tight control among individuals caring for women with GDM. Enhanced accessibility to such curricula is crucial to improve access to diabetes education.

Trial registration

This study was registered at clinicaltrials.gov, identifier: NCT04474795.

Prevalence of Screening for Diabetes Mellitus in Patients Previously Diagnosed with Gestational Diabetes: Factors Related to its Performance

OBJECTIVE

 To determine how many patients underwent screening for diabetes mellitus (DM) in the puerperium after a diagnosis of gestational DM (GDM) and which factors were related to its performance.

METHODS

 The present is a prospective cohort study with 175 women with a diagnosis of GDM. Sociodemographic and clinico-obstetric data were collected through a questionnaire and a screening test for DM was requested six weeks postpartum. After ten weeks, the researchers contacted the patients by telephone with questions about the performance of the screening. The categorical variables were expressed as absolute and relative frequencies. The measure of association was the relative risk with a 95% confidence interval (95%CI), and values of p ≤ 0.05 were considered statistically significant and tested through logistic regression.

RESULTS

 The survey was completed by 159 patients, 32 (20.1%) of whom underwent puerperal screening. The mean age of the sample was of 30.7 years, and most patients were white (57.9%), married (56.6%), and had had 8 or more years of schooling (72.3%). About 22.6% of the patients used medications to treat GDM, 30.8% had other comorbidities, and 76.7% attended the postnatal appointment. Attendance at the postpartum appointment, the use of medication, and the presence of comorbidities showed an association with the performance of the oral glucose tolerance test in the puerperium.

CONCLUSION

 The prevalence of screening for DM six weeks postpartum is low in women previously diagnosed with GDM. Patients who attended the postpartum consultation, used medications to treat GDM, and had comorbidities were the most adherent to the puerperal screening. We need strategies to increase the rate of performance of this exam.

Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Health Care and Health Outcomes for Pregnant Women With Diabetes

This article summarizes the current literature on racial and ethnic differences among women with diabetes in pregnancy. The PubMed, Scopus, CINAHL, and Embase databases were searched for original qualitative or quantitative studies published in English from January 1, 2009, to May 31, 2020. Consensus statements were excluded. Results of this synthesis indicate that racial and ethnic differences exist among pregnant women with diabetes, including social determinants of health, disparities in maternity care and perinatal care, and maternal and neonatal health outcomes. Health care providers should implement tailored interventions that specifically target racial and ethnic disparities in maternal and neonatal health to promote health equity in pregnant women with diabetes and their offspring, including later in life.

Postpartum counseling in women with hypertensive disorders of pregnancy

BACKGROUND

Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy are associated with increased cardiovascular disease risk across the lifespan. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and the American Heart Association emphasize the postpartum period as an important opportunity to identify and intervene women at high risk of future cardiovascular disease.

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to determine the proportion of women with documented counseling on risks and transitions of care after hypertensive disorders of pregnancy at the postpartum visit.

STUDY DESIGN

This was a retrospective longitudinal descriptive study of women with hypertensive disorders of pregnancy who were enrolled in a text-based blood pressure program from September 2018 to February 2019. We abstracted counseling in the discharge summary and postpartum note from the electronic medical record. The primary outcome was counseling at the postpartum visit defined as documentation of (1) follow-up with primary care or cardiology, (2) risk of cardiovascular disease, or (3) recommendation for aspirin in a future pregnancy. We assessed demographic and clinical factors that may influence counseling through multivariable logistic regression. We also compared the proportion of women counseled on hypertensive disorders of pregnancy vs contraception and glucose tolerance tests at the postpartum visit.

RESULTS

Of 320 eligible women, most women had gestational hypertension or preeclampsia without severe features (64%). Postpartum visits were scheduled in our hospital system for 284 women, of whom 253 attended (89%). Documented counseling occurred for 62 women (25%). Counseling on follow-up with primary care or cardiology, cardiovascular disease risk, and aspirin in future pregnancies was documented for 51 (20%), 15 (6%), and 1 (0.4%), respectively. Only 1 woman had documented counseling on all 3 components. In multivariable analysis, black race remained an independent factor that increased the likelihood of counseling on hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (adjusted odds ratio, 2.77; 95% confidence interval, 1.32-5.83). Women were significantly less likely to be counseled on hypertensive disorders of pregnancy than on contraceptives (99%, P<.001) or glucose tolerance testing after gestational diabetes mellitus (79%, P<.001).

CONCLUSION

Postpartum counseling on hypertensive disorders of pregnancy merits urgent improvement efforts among obstetrical care providers.

Factors Associated With Postpartum Diabetes Screening in Women With Gestational Diabetes and Medicaid During Pregnancy

INTRODUCTION

Women with gestational diabetes are 7 times more likely to develop type 2 diabetes and require lifelong diabetes screening. Loss of health coverage after pregnancy, as occurs in states that did not expand Medicaid, limits access to guideline-driven follow-up care and fosters health inequity. This study aims to understand the factors associated with the receipt of postpartum diabetes screening for women with gestational diabetes in a state without Medicaid expansion.

METHODS

Electronic health record and Medicaid claims data were linked to generate a retrospective cohort of 1,078 women with gestational diabetes receiving care in Federally Qualified Health Centers in Missouri from 2010 to 2015. In 2019-2020, data were analyzed to determine the factors associated with the receipt of recommended postpartum diabetes screening (fasting plasma glucose, 2-hour oral glucose tolerance test, or HbA1c in specified timeframes) using a Cox proportional hazards model through 18 months of follow-up.

RESULTS

Median age in this predominantly urban population was 28 (IQR=24-33) years. Self-reported racial or ethnic minorities comprised more than half of the population. Only 9.7% of women were screened at 12 weeks, and 20.8% were screened at 18 months. Prenatal certified diabetes education (adjusted hazard ratio=1.74, 95% CI=1.22, 2.49) and access to public transportation (adjusted hazard ratio=1.70, 95% CI=1.13, 2.54) were associated with increased screening in a model adjusted for race/ethnicity, the total number of prenatal visits, the use of diabetes medication during pregnancy, and a pregnancy-specific comorbidity index that incorporated age.

CONCLUSIONS

This study underscores the importance of access to public transportation, prenatal diabetes education, and continued healthcare coverage for women on Medicaid to support the receipt of guideline-recommended follow-up care and improve health equity.

Maternal Race/Ethnicity and Postpartum Diabetes Screening: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Introduction: Fifty percent of women with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) may progress to type 2 diabetes with highest risk among black women. This study aims to characterize postpartum diabetes screening rates among U.S. women with GDM by racial and ethnic group to characterize potential disparities. Materials and Methods: A standardized search of Ovid-Medline, Embase, Scopus, Cumulative Index of Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), Cochrane, ProQuest, and Clinicaltrials.gov was conducted through October 12, 2018. Of 1,555 titles reviewed, 27 studies met inclusion criteria. Meta-proportion routines with random-effects models estimated pooled postpartum screening proportion effect size (ES) with 95% confidence interval (CI) by racial and ethnic group. Heterogeneity was measured using Cochrane's Q and Higgins I² tests. Data were stratified by intervention and data source. Results: There were 96,439 women, of whom 81,930 had race/ethnicity recorded. Heterogeneity was high (I² = 99.7%). Postpartum screening rates were low (pooled ES 42% [95% CI 35%-48%]). Point estimates for pooled screening proportions were lower among white (pooled ES 35% [95% CI 28%-42%]) and black (pooled ES 33% [95% CI 24%-42%]) women than among Hispanic (pooled ES 45% [95% CI 37%-53%]) and Asian (pooled ES 50% [95% CI 41%-58%]) women. Interventions to improve screening were most common and effective among Hispanic women. Discussion: Postpartum screening for diabetes after GDM remains low, and black women have among the lowest postpartum screening rates despite highest risk for type 2 diabetes progression. Reporting of race/ethnicity, screening methods, and screening time frames varied across studies. Conclusion: Future studies must standardize racial/ethnic data reporting and examine interventions that address postpartum diabetes screening and prevention.

Effect of Rice Processing towards Lower Rapidly Available Glucose (RAG) Favors Idli, a South Indian Fermented Food Suitable for Diabetic Patients

The Asian food pattern primarily embraces rice and rice-based products, which mainly comprise 90% starch. Among these various food products, Idli is mostly prepared through fermentation. It has high palatability, and the rapid and highly digestible nature of the food product results in a higher post-glucose level in diabetic patients. A heat-treated Idli rice sample was prepared by roasting parboiled rice at the temperature range of 155 to 165 °C for 65 to 75 s. Idli/rice-based Dokala made from heat-treated rice is better when compared to untreated rice in terms of its microbiological profile and physiochemical properties. The proximate composition of heat-treated parboiled rice Idli/Rice Dokala showed slightly higher values than the untreated parboiled rice Idli/Rice Dokala, which reveals that it has marginally higher nutritive value. Determination of the Rapidly Available Glucose (RAG) and Slowly Available Glucose (SAG) values, SEM analysis, resistant starch analysis, microbial assay, and in vivo studies were performed to determine the glycemic index (GI) and glycemic load in normal and diabetic persons. Sensory analysis also proved that heat-treated Idli/Rice Dokala is superior to untreated based on the color, flavor, appearance, taste, and texture.

Influences of Community Interventions on Zika Prevention Behaviors of Pregnant Women, Puerto Rico, July 2016-June 20171

We assessed how community education efforts influenced pregnant women’s Zika prevention behaviors during the 2016 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention–Puerto Rico Department of Health Zika virus response. Efforts included Zika virus training, distribution of Zika prevention kits, a mass media campaign, and free home mosquito spraying. We used telephone interview data from pregnant women participating in Puerto Rico’s Women, Infants, and Children Program to test associations between program participation and Zika prevention behaviors. Behavior percentages ranged from 4% (wearing long-sleeved shirt) to 90% (removing standing water). Appropriate mosquito repellent use (28%) and condom use (44%) were common. Receiving a Zika prevention kit was significantly associated with larvicide application (odds ratio [OR] 8.0) and bed net use (OR 3.1), suggesting the kit's importance for lesser-known behaviors. Offer of free residential spraying was associated with spraying home for mosquitoes (OR 13.1), indicating that women supported home spraying when barriers were removed.