title: The subjective impact of a diagnosis of gestational diabetes among ethnically diverse pregnant women: a qualitative study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Women diagnosed with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) require enhanced medical care, social support and health behaviour changes to reduce the complications of pregnancy and future adverse health outcomes. Little is known about how a GDM diagnosis positively and negatively impacts women, especially those of diverse ethnic backgrounds. This qualitative study sought to gain insight into the reactions and experiences of multiethnic women diagnosed with GDM.
  
  
  METHODS
  A qualitative descriptive approach was used to analyze semistructured telephone interviews conducted with 19 pregnant women of diverse backgrounds who were diagnosed with GDM. Interviews were recorded and transcribed and then coded and analyzed using content analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  This study identified 2 main themes and several subthemes. First, women reported many negative effects of a GDM diagnosis, including heightened pressure to fulfill multiple roles, financial impact, and a disconnect between diabetes-prevention recommendations and their cultural practices. Second, a GDM diagnosis also had positive effects on many women. Women indicated being motivated to make health behaviour changes after a GDM diagnosis and viewed it as a wake-up call to modify their lifestyles.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  To help pregnant women with self-management of gestational diabetes, healthcare providers should pay greater attention to the adverse effects of GDM on women, including role expectations, cultural issues and financial barriers. Healthcare providers also need to focus on the positive effects and capitalize on women's motivation to make lifestyle changes to reduce their future risk for diabetes.
authors.affiliation: Women's College Research Institute, Women's College Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Simone
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kaptein
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Health Sciences, Western University, Arthur and Sonia Labatt Health Sciences Building, London, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Marilyn
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Evans
authors.affiliation: Women's College Research Institute, Women's College Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: McTavish
authors.affiliation: Women's College Research Institute, Women's College Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Ananya T
authors.initials: AT
authors.lastname: Banerjee
authors.affiliation: Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, St. Michael's Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Denice S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Feig
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Julia
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lowe
authors.affiliation: Women's College Research Institute, Women's College Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Electronic address: Lorraine.lipscombe@wchospital.ca.
authors.forename: Lorraine L
authors.initials: LL
authors.lastname: Lipscombe
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016640:Diabetes, Gestational / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology*; D005006:Ethnicity / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008019:Life Style; D008875:Middle Aged; D011247:Pregnancy; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012944:Social Support; D013315:Stress, Psychological
keywords: diabète gestationnel; entretiens qualitifs; ethnically diverse women; expérience subjective; femmes de diverses origines ethniques; gestational diabetes; qualitative interviews; subjective experience