Exploring the psychological wellbeing of women with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM): increased risk of anxiety in women requiring insulin. A Prospective Longitudinal Observational Pilot Study

Figures & data

Figure 1. Flow chart of study recruitment.

Table 1. Demographic characteristics and psychological wellbeing assessments of participants.

	Non-GDM	GDM – Diet	GDM – Insulin	P value
n	20	20	15
Median age (IQR) – years	27.3 (22.2–30.0)	28.6 (25.8–32.6)	30.2 (29.4–35.8)	0.014 non-GDM v GDM-Ins
Median BMI (IQR) – kg/m^2	24.8 (22.0–31.4)	24.5 (22.3–37.5)	31.0 (27.7–36.2)	0.013 non-GDM v GDM-Ins
Median SEIFA score^a (IQR)	976 (912–1015)	973 (901–1013)	944 (859–974)	NS
Below national average – n (%)	14 (70)	13 (65)	13 (87)	NS
Married or de facto – n (%)	15 (75)	19 (95)	10 (67)	0.028 GDM-Diet v GDM-Ins
Nulliparous – n (%)	4 (20)	15 (75)	4 (27)	0.001 non-GDM v GDM-Diet 0.007 GDM-Diet v GDM-Ins
Ethnicity – n (%)
White	20 (100)	15 (75)	20 (100)	0.047 non-GDM v GDM
Asian		5 (25)
Completed high school – n (%)	15 (75)	13 (65)	10 (66)	NS
Mental illness past/current – n (%)	7 (35)	3 (15)	9 (60)	0.011 GDM-Diet v GDM-Ins
Median gestation at diagnostic test for GDM (IQR) – weeks	25.1 (18.1–26.2)	26.5 (24.6–27.9)	24.0 (12.4–25.7)	0.044 non-GDM v GDM-Diet 0.020 GDM-Diet v GDM-Ins
Median gestation at 1st questionnaire (IQR) – weeks	27.8 (27.0–31.3)	29.8 (28.2–31.3)	29.8 (28.7–32.1)	NS
Median gestation at 2nd questionnaire (IQR) – weeks	36.1 (35.5–37.1)	35.3 (35.0–36.0)	35.6 (34.8–35.7)	0.040 non-GDM v GDM-Diet 0.025 non-GDM v GDM-Ins
Median STAI-6 initial (IQR)	8.0 (6.2–10.5)	10.5 (9.0–13.2)	12.0 (10.0–14.0)	0.023 non-GDM v GDM-Diet 0.005 non-GDM v GDM-Ins
Score ≥15 – n (%)	2 (10)	3 (15)	3 (20)	NS
Median STAI-6 ∼36 weeks (IQR)	7.5 (6.0–12.0)	10.0 (8.0–13.0)	12.0 (9.0–16.0)	0.046 non-GDM v GDM-Ins
Score ≥15 – n (%)	3 (15)	3 (15)	4 (27)	NS
Median EDS – initial (IQR)	2.5 (1.0–7.7)	5.0 (2.5–10.2)	6.0 (4.0–7.0)	NS
Score ≥13 – n (%)	2 (10)	3 (15)	1 (7)	NS
Median EDS – ∼36 weeks (IQR)	1.0 (0.0–8.0)	4.5 (3.0–8.7)	6.0 (4.0–8.0)	NS
Score ≥13 – n (%)	4 (20)		2 (13)	NS
Median PAID – initial (IQR)	N/A	9.0 (5.0–21.7)	9.0 (5.0–18.0)	NS
Score >40 – n (%)		0 (0)	1 (7)	NS
Median PAID – ∼36 weeks (IQR)	N/A	7.5 (3.2–12.5)	8.0 (3.0–17.0)	NS
Score >40 – n (%)		0 (0)	0 (0)	NS

^a Socioeconomic disadvantage was based on the 2006 Socio-Economic Indexes for Areas (SEIFA). Lower scores are indicative of higher levels of socioeconomic disadvantage.

Figure 2. State-Trait Anxiety Inventory 6 Question Short Form (STAI-6) (a) and Edinburgh Depression Scale (EDS) (b) scores for women without GDM (non-GDM), women with GDM treated with diet (GDM-Diet) or insulin (GDM-Insulin) at two time points during pregnancy. Scores are displayed as box plots with median and interquartile range. *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01.

Figure 3. Problem Areas in Diabetes (PAID) scores in women with GDM treated with diet (GDM-Diet) or insulin (GDM-Insulin) at two time points during pregnancy. Scores are displayed as box plots with median and interquartile range.

Data availability statement

Data stored as SPSS database and is available as an SPSS or Excel document upon request.