Endocrine Abstracts

JOINT272

Introduction: Gestational diabetes (GD) is a condition that causes significant concern and stress, which can have repercussions on maternal and fetal health. However, there is limited research on patients’ experiences regarding GD care. The objective of this study was to identify the psychosocial experiences triggered by a GD diagnosis to improve healthcare services.

Methods: This cross-sectional study explores the experiences of 53 women diagnosed with GD, followed up at our GD unit in Service C of the Tunis Institute of Nutrition. Data were collected through in-depth interviews.

Results: The average age of the participants was 33.79 ± 4.8 years. Smoking and sedentary lifestyles were observed in 5.7% and 54.7% of cases, respectively. Their medical history included hypertension (7.5%), dyslipidemia (3.8%), and hypothyroidism (7.5%). The majority of women were overweight, with a preconceptional body mass index (BMI) averaging 28.82 ± 5.02 kg/m². Their diabetes was well-controlled, with an average HbA1c of 5.55 ± 0.67%. Difficulty accepting GD was reported by 49.1% of patients, while 30.2% experienced feelings of self-devaluation. Additionally, 17% felt that society reduced them to their disease, whereas 54.7% perceived GD as a socioeconomic burden. Adapting to new dietary habits was a major challenge: 52.8% of women struggled to modify their diet, and 35.8% found preparing varied and balanced meals burdensome. This adaptation led to frustration and deprivation for 47.2% of the patients. The psychological impact of GD was also significant, with 52.8% of women reporting recent stress. Support from their social circle played a crucial role in their experience, yet 22.6% felt unsupported, and 33.21% believed that their entourage was unaware of GD’s implications. Furthermore, 11.3% of patients themselves lacked knowledge about the disease’s implications. Regarding pregnancy weight gain, 39.6% of women had insufficient weight gain, 32.1% had normal weight gain, and 28.3% experienced excessive weight gain. No statistically significant association was found between pregnancy weight gain and recent stress or feelings of frustration and deprivation (P = NS).

Conclusion: Based on the experiences of this group of Tunisian women, it is evident that healthcare services need to be restructured to improve pregnancy experiences and ensure that women are actively engaged and attentive to their own health.