Gestational diabetes: a case-control study of women's experience of pregnancy, health and the child.
Women with previous gestational diabetes (n = 113) and controls (n = 226) were studied retrospectively by means of questionnaires. Women with gestational diabetes reported less well-being (p < 0.05), psychic health (p < 0.001) and vigour (p < 0.001) during pregnancy and a less positive experience of pregnancy (p < 0.001) than controls. They also recalled more worry about health during pregnancy than controls (p < 0.001), reported more physical health problems (p < 0.05), more worry about health (p < 0.05) and kept to a diet more often after pregnancy (women with gestational diabetes 34%, controls 13%, p < 0.001). Although most of the women in the groups were not troubled, it was clear that the gestational diabetes influenced their experience of health negatively but motivated them to adopt a healthy lifestyle. Initial treatment with insulin seemed to be slightly more stressful than diet only.
Sjögren
B
B
Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Karolinska Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden.
Robeus
N
N
Hansson
U
U
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002669:Child Welfare; D016640:Diabetes, Gestational; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008875:Middle Aged; D011247:Pregnancy; D016387:Women's Health