Supports and Barriers to Lifestyle Interventions in Women with Gestational Diabetes Mellitus in Australia: A National Online Survey
Background: Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) affects approximately one in six pregnancies, causing a significant burden on maternal and infant health. Lifestyle interventions are first-line therapies to manage blood glucose levels (BGLs) and prevent future cardiometabolic complications. However,...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2023-01-01
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| Series: | Nutrients |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/15/3/487 |
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| author | Angelo Sabag Lauren Houston Elizabeth P. Neale Hannah E. Christie Lauren A. Roach Joanna Russell Colin H. Cortie Marijka Batterham Barbara J. Meyer Monique E. Francois |
| author_facet | Angelo Sabag Lauren Houston Elizabeth P. Neale Hannah E. Christie Lauren A. Roach Joanna Russell Colin H. Cortie Marijka Batterham Barbara J. Meyer Monique E. Francois |
| author_sort | Angelo Sabag |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) affects approximately one in six pregnancies, causing a significant burden on maternal and infant health. Lifestyle interventions are first-line therapies to manage blood glucose levels (BGLs) and prevent future cardiometabolic complications. However, women with GDM experience considerable barriers to lifestyle interventions; thus, the aim of this study was to determine how women with GDM manage their condition and to identify the primary supports and barriers to lifestyle intervention participation. Methods: An online cross-sectional survey of women in Australia with a history of GDM was conducted. Questions included participant demographics, strategies used to manage BGLs, physical activity and dietary habits, and barriers and supports to lifestyle interventions. Results: A total of 665 individuals consented and responded to the advertisement, of which 564 were eligible and provided partial or complete responses to the survey questions. Most respondents were between 35 and 39 years of age (35.5%), not pregnant (75.4%), working part-time (26.7%), university-educated (58.0%), and had only one child (40.1%). Most respondents managed their BGLs through diet (88.3%), with “low-carbohydrate” diets being the most popular (72.3%), and 46.2% of respondents were undertaking insulin therapy. Only 42.2% and 19.8% of respondents reported meeting the aerobic and strengthening exercise recommendations, respectively. Women with one child or currently pregnant expecting their first child were 1.51 times more likely (95% CI, 1.02, 2.25) to meet the aerobic exercise recommendations than those with two or more children. The most common reported barriers to lifestyle intervention participation were “lack of time” (71.4%) and “childcare” commitments (57.7%). Lifestyle interventions delivered between 6 and 12 months postpartum (59.0%), involving an exercise program (82.6%), and delivered one-on-one were the most popular (64.9%). Conclusion: Most women report managing their GDM with lifestyle strategies. The most common strategies reported involve approaches not currently included in the clinical practice guidelines such as reducing carbohydrate consumption. Furthermore, despite being willing to participate in lifestyle interventions, respondents report significant barriers, including lack of time and childcare commitments, whereas mentioned supports included having an online format. Lifestyle interventions for women with a history of GDM should be designed in a manner that is both tailored to the individual and considerate of existing barriers and supports to participation. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T09:31:33Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-94e7050f1e7147148dd4a0fa9987414b |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2072-6643 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T09:31:33Z |
| publishDate | 2023-01-01 |
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| series | Nutrients |
| spelling | doaj.art-94e7050f1e7147148dd4a0fa9987414b2023-11-16T17:37:36ZengMDPI AGNutrients2072-66432023-01-0115348710.3390/nu15030487Supports and Barriers to Lifestyle Interventions in Women with Gestational Diabetes Mellitus in Australia: A National Online SurveyAngelo Sabag0Lauren Houston1Elizabeth P. Neale2Hannah E. Christie3Lauren A. Roach4Joanna Russell5Colin H. Cortie6Marijka Batterham7Barbara J. Meyer8Monique E. Francois9Illawarra Health and Medical Research Institute, Wollongong, NSW 2522, AustraliaThe George Institute for Global Health, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2042, AustraliaIllawarra Health and Medical Research Institute, Wollongong, NSW 2522, AustraliaIllawarra Health and Medical Research Institute, Wollongong, NSW 2522, AustraliaIllawarra Health and Medical Research Institute, Wollongong, NSW 2522, AustraliaSchool of Health and Society, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW 2522, AustraliaGraduate School of Medicine, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW 2522, AustraliaNational Institute for Applied Statistics Research Australia, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW 2522, AustraliaIllawarra Health and Medical Research Institute, Wollongong, NSW 2522, AustraliaIllawarra Health and Medical Research Institute, Wollongong, NSW 2522, AustraliaBackground: Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) affects approximately one in six pregnancies, causing a significant burden on maternal and infant health. Lifestyle interventions are first-line therapies to manage blood glucose levels (BGLs) and prevent future cardiometabolic complications. However, women with GDM experience considerable barriers to lifestyle interventions; thus, the aim of this study was to determine how women with GDM manage their condition and to identify the primary supports and barriers to lifestyle intervention participation. Methods: An online cross-sectional survey of women in Australia with a history of GDM was conducted. Questions included participant demographics, strategies used to manage BGLs, physical activity and dietary habits, and barriers and supports to lifestyle interventions. Results: A total of 665 individuals consented and responded to the advertisement, of which 564 were eligible and provided partial or complete responses to the survey questions. Most respondents were between 35 and 39 years of age (35.5%), not pregnant (75.4%), working part-time (26.7%), university-educated (58.0%), and had only one child (40.1%). Most respondents managed their BGLs through diet (88.3%), with “low-carbohydrate” diets being the most popular (72.3%), and 46.2% of respondents were undertaking insulin therapy. Only 42.2% and 19.8% of respondents reported meeting the aerobic and strengthening exercise recommendations, respectively. Women with one child or currently pregnant expecting their first child were 1.51 times more likely (95% CI, 1.02, 2.25) to meet the aerobic exercise recommendations than those with two or more children. The most common reported barriers to lifestyle intervention participation were “lack of time” (71.4%) and “childcare” commitments (57.7%). Lifestyle interventions delivered between 6 and 12 months postpartum (59.0%), involving an exercise program (82.6%), and delivered one-on-one were the most popular (64.9%). Conclusion: Most women report managing their GDM with lifestyle strategies. The most common strategies reported involve approaches not currently included in the clinical practice guidelines such as reducing carbohydrate consumption. Furthermore, despite being willing to participate in lifestyle interventions, respondents report significant barriers, including lack of time and childcare commitments, whereas mentioned supports included having an online format. Lifestyle interventions for women with a history of GDM should be designed in a manner that is both tailored to the individual and considerate of existing barriers and supports to participation.https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/15/3/487behaviour changeexercisephysical activitynutritionpregnancyglycaemia |
| spellingShingle | Angelo Sabag Lauren Houston Elizabeth P. Neale Hannah E. Christie Lauren A. Roach Joanna Russell Colin H. Cortie Marijka Batterham Barbara J. Meyer Monique E. Francois Supports and Barriers to Lifestyle Interventions in Women with Gestational Diabetes Mellitus in Australia: A National Online Survey Nutrients behaviour change exercise physical activity nutrition pregnancy glycaemia |
| title | Supports and Barriers to Lifestyle Interventions in Women with Gestational Diabetes Mellitus in Australia: A National Online Survey |
| title_full | Supports and Barriers to Lifestyle Interventions in Women with Gestational Diabetes Mellitus in Australia: A National Online Survey |
| title_fullStr | Supports and Barriers to Lifestyle Interventions in Women with Gestational Diabetes Mellitus in Australia: A National Online Survey |
| title_full_unstemmed | Supports and Barriers to Lifestyle Interventions in Women with Gestational Diabetes Mellitus in Australia: A National Online Survey |
| title_short | Supports and Barriers to Lifestyle Interventions in Women with Gestational Diabetes Mellitus in Australia: A National Online Survey |
| title_sort | supports and barriers to lifestyle interventions in women with gestational diabetes mellitus in australia a national online survey |
| topic | behaviour change exercise physical activity nutrition pregnancy glycaemia |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/15/3/487 |
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