Women's Barriers to Weight Loss, Perception of Future Diabetes Risk and Opinions of Diet Strategies Following Gestational Diabetes: An Online Survey

Effects of online support and social media communities on gestational diabetes: A systematic review

BACKGROUND

Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is a common complication in pregnancy that can lead to negative maternal and fetal outcomes. Online support interventions have been suggested as a potential tool to improve the management of GDM.

OBJECTIVE

This systematic review aimed to summarize the effectiveness of social media and online support interventions for the management of GDM.

METHODS

We conducted a thorough systematic search across Web of Science, Scopus, and PubMed, following PRISMA guidelines, and supplemented it with a manual search. Our results included both qualitative and quantitative research. We rigorously assessed quantitative studies for bias using ROBINS-I and RoB 2 tools, ensuring the reliability of our findings.

RESULTS

We incorporated a total of 22 studies, which were comprised of ten qualitative and twelve quantitative studies. Online support interventions were found to have a positive impact on promoting self-care and improving healthcare outcomes for women with GDM. Individualized diet and exercise interventions resulted in lower odds of weight gain and GDM diagnosis, while online prenatal education increased breastfeeding rates. In addition, telemedicine options reduced the need for in-person clinical visits and improved patient satisfaction.

CONCLUSIONS

Online support interventions show potential to improve outcomes in patients with GDM in this small literature review. Future research is also necessary to determine the effectiveness of different types of online interventions and identify strategies to improve engagement and the quality of the information provided through online resources.

Relation between weight gain during pregnancy and postpartum reclassification in gestational diabetes

PURPOSE

Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is the most common metabolic disease in pregnancy. It is known that GDM is a precursor to type 2 diabetes (T2D). There is evidence that excessive gestational weight variation (GWV) increases the risk of GDM. So, in this study, we aimed to evaluate the association between GWV and the persistence of diabetes in postpartum reclassification.

METHODS

A retrospective observational study including pregnant women based on data from the Portuguese National Registry of Gestational Diabetes. Six-to-eight weeks after delivery, all women included underwent a reclassification test. We performed unadjusted and adjusted logistic regression models to evaluate the associations between GWV and diabetes diagnosis at the reclassification test. A subgroup analysis according to the pre-gestational BMI was also performed.

RESULTS

We included 10,389 pregnant women, of which 19.6% had GDM in a previous pregnancy. The median of GWV was 10.0 [6.4, 14.0] kg and was found to be higher for those with a normal BMI. At the DM reclassification test, 1% of the women were diagnosed with T2D. We found a negative association between GWV and postpartum diabetes mellitus (DM). We also present a subgroup analysis, and these associations were only significant for the group with a normal pre-gestational BMI.

CONCLUSION

Our results showed that women with normal pre-gestational BMI and lower GWV were more likely to have a diagnosis of DM in the postpartum reclassification test. This study helps to fill the gap in the effect of GWG on the persistence of diabetes in postpartum reclassification.

Weight Loss Barriers and Dietary Quality of Intermittent and Continuous Dieters in Women with a History of Gestational Diabetes

Weight-loss after gestational diabetes (GDM) lowers the risk of type-2 diabetes (T2DM). Intermittent energy restriction (IER) produces comparable weight-loss to continuous energy restriction (CER), but long-term adherence remains difficult in this population. This exploratory secondary analysis of a 12-month trial comparing IER to CER following GDM examined weight-loss and dietary quality associated with barriers to weight-loss or T2DM risk perception as assessed in a Likert scale questionnaire at baseline. The participants had a median (IQR) BMI of 32.6 (9.4) kg/m² and 3 (4) years postpartum (n = 121). Forty-five percent (n = 54) of the participants thought they were at a high risk of developing T2DM. Greater affordability of healthy food was related with greater weight-loss at 3 months (p = 0.044, n = 85). At 12 months, there was no significant relationship between weight-loss and the barriers to weight-loss (p > 0.05). CER had superior improvement in dietary quality at 12 months (CER 11 ± 10, IER 6 ± 5.6, n = 42, p = 0.05). Under the Theoretical Domains Framework, the barriers were predominantly related to behavioral regulation (n = 83, 69%; n = 76, 63%) and environmental context and resources (n = 67, 56%). Interventions for diabetes prevention in this population should include behavioral regulation strategies, consider the family home environment, and ensure that the risk of T2DM is conveyed. Women choosing IER may benefit from education to improve their dietary quality.

The effect of intermittent energy restriction on weight loss and diabetes risk markers in women with a history of gestational diabetes: a 12-month randomized control trial

BACKGROUND

Weight loss after gestational diabetes (GDM) can prevent or delay the onset of type 2 diabetes. Intermittent energy restriction (IER) may offer an alternative to continuous energy restriction (CER) for weight loss.

OBJECTIVES

We compared the effects of IER (2 days per week) to daily CER over 12 mo on weight loss and diabetes risk markers in overweight women with previous GDM.

METHODS

Overweight females (n = 121) ≥18 y were randomized 1:1 to either IER [2-d 500 kcal (2100 kJ); n = 61] or CER [1500 kcal (6000 kJ); n = 60] in this 12-mo noninferiority trial.

RESULTS

The trial was completed by 62 participants with a median age of 39.6 y [Quartile (Q) 1 to Quartile 3, 34.9 to 43.9 y] with a median BMI of 32.6 kg/m2 (Q1 to Q3, 28.5 to 37.9 kg/m2) at a median of 2.9 y after GDM (Q1 to Q3, 2.1 to 6.4 y; 49% attrition; IER n = 29; CER n = 30; P = 0.8). The mean ± SD weight loss was significant over time (P < 0.001) but not by diet group (IER -4.8 ± 5.0 kg; CER -3.2 ± 5.0; P = 0.2). The mean between-group difference was -1.6 kg (95% CI: -4.2 to 1.0 kg; P = 0.2). There were no significant between-group differences in change in HbA1c, fasting plasma glucose, fasting serum insulin, HOMA-IR or 2-h oral glucose tolerance at 12 mo (p>0.05). The trial was registered at https://www.anzctr.org.au/ (ACTRN12617001476325).

CONCLUSIONS

IER produces comparable weight loss to CER over 12 mo in overweight women with previous GDM. The high dropout rate in this study is a limitation in the interpretation of these results. Larger studies are needed to confirm noninferiority of IER compared to CER.