Attitudes of women with gestational diabetes toward diet and exercise: a qualitative study

Figures & data

Table 1. Suggested schedule of questions for semi-structured interviews of consenting women who had been diagnosed with gestational diabetes (GDM).

Engagement questions: How are you today? How are you doing after the diagnosis of GDM? How do you feel about food? How do you feel about exercising?

Exploring questions: What does a healthy diet mean to you? How would you describe your own diet? What has helped you in eating healthily in the past? What do you think are the main barriers that women face in following a healthy diet? Do you ever feel that food causes you stress / anxiety? Did your diet change after your diagnosis? How did that affect you?

When you think about exercise what comes to mind? Is exercise something you enjoy? Can you tell me about any forms of exercise you enjoyed in the past? What are the benefits of exercise in your opinion?

Was the information you received regarding diet and exercise helpful? Is there any are you feel could be improved for patients? Anything to add?

Do you feel that your lifestyle has changed since the diagnosis?

Would you have any advice for a woman at the time of diagnosis of GDM having gone through the experience yourself?

Exit questions: Is there anything else you would like to say? Have we missed anything that you think is important? Of everything discussed today, what did you think was the most important?

Probes: Please tell me more about that Can you give an example of that? Can you explain what you mean by that?

Questions were developed based on expert opinion, literature review and consultation with women with GDM – “Experts by experience.”

Table 2. Demographics of women participating in semi-structured interviews exploring their attitude toward diet and exercise before and after a diagnosis of GDM (gestational diabetes mellitus).

	Total n = 32
Age (years)	35 (29–44)
Parity	1 (0–3)
Primiparous (%)	14 (44%)
Gestational age at diagnosis of GDM (weeks)	>26 (5–36)
Risk factors for GDM (%)	Previous GDM	11 (34%)
	Family history of GDM (first degree relation)	4 (12.5%)
	BMI >30	4 (12.5%)
Ethnicity (%)	Irish	23 (71.9%)
	European (non-Irish)	5 (15.6%)
	Non-Irish, non-European	4 (12.5%)
Educational level (%)	Second level	11 (34%)
	Third level	21 (66%)

BMI: body mass index.

Age, parity, gestation at diagnosis are all reported as median (range: minimum to maximum).

Table 3. Themes developed on thematic analysis of semi-structured interviews of women with gestational diabetes (GDM) showing their attitude toward diet and exercise following a GDM diagnosis.

Diet Healthy pre-pregnancy diet “Tweaks” to diet in pregnancy Importance of support from partner and/or family Focusing on the future health of the fetus Healthy diet for all the family going forward Identified barriers: time, education, convenience

Exercise Exercise as a “chore” Barriers initially and ongoing: time, childcare, disinterest, lack of motivation Awareness of general benefits of exercise without application to the woman as an individual Later promoters: physical benefits, improved wellbeing, mental health support, improved glycemic control, partner support